Honolulu Wreath Contest: $200 top prize for 'Christmas in the Country' designs

The Mayor’s Holly Award of $200 sits at the top of the prize structure for the 2026 Holiday Wreath Contest, the largest single cash incentive in the Honolulu City Lights celebration. This award goes to the Best in Show wreath, which will join other winning entries on display from Dec. 5 through Dec. 30 in the Lane Gallery of Honolulu Hale.

The contest theme this year is “Christmas in the Country.” Participants can enter three distinct divisions: an adult category for individuals or groups with members 18 and older, a youth category for those 17 and younger, and a special theme category open to all entrants. Judges will evaluate entries based on workmanship, creativity, and material use. Theme category entries receive additional scrutiny regarding how effectively they incorporate the rural holiday motif.

Financial awards extend beyond the top prize. First place in each division pays $150, second place pays $100, and third place pays $75. Six Judges’ Choice Awards carry a $25 prize each. Each individual or group is limited to a single award, ensuring the cash distribution reaches multiple creators rather than concentrating on one winner.

Residents must submit their wreaths on Monday, Nov. 30, between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. The drop-off location is the Lane Gallery at Honolulu Hale, 530 South King Street. Entry forms are available on the hnlcitylights.com website. Staff will not accept wreaths that arrive before or after the designated window, so timing is a strict requirement for participation.

The organizing team will notify winners by Friday, Dec. 4. For questions regarding guidelines or logistics, the Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts is reachable at (808) 768-6622. The event serves as a precursor to the wider Honolulu City Lights festivities, bringing local artistic expression to the civic center for a month-long public viewing.