After we returned from our Oahu tour and had some lunch, Alison and I walked to the Iolani Palace and were then planning to catch a taxi to Waikiki Beach afterwards.  One block before the palace there was a Christmas display with Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus Hawaiian style.

There were many more displays on this street and a security guard told us that the lights would be on at dark so we left for the palace to come back later.

Queen Iolani Palace. We were not able to tour the inside as it closes at 5 but the grounds were open.

Without searching for it, we saw the capital for the state of Hawaii when we walked around the back of the palace. The building is different from most capitals in the US in that it is much newer since Hawaii was made the 50th state in 1959.  The downstairs is open from front to back and the offices are on the sides and around the second floor.

After wandering a bit more we headed back to the Christmas displays on King Street and there we stayed oohing and ahhing for a couple of hours.

City Hall has a big open area on the bottom floor that was filled with themed Christmas trees and displays. Santa was there too with children on his lap making their wishes.

My pictures were not clear enough to show you all the pretty trees but this one was decorated with tropical flowers

Trolleys drove by regularly for the passengers to view the lights and displays. I don’t know if these were special or just normal Honolulu transportation.

Alison and I went across the street to listen to the carolers and look at this church.

We were standing outside the gate when a lady came and grabbed Alison’s arm and pulled her closer to the church.

She brought Alison to this lady who then said a prayer over us called the Queen’s Blessing. We both would have liked a few days in beautiful Honolulu before moving on to the other islands.