Some folks go all out with displays for the holidays; here are some of the best. Whether you are in search of Christmas cheer or need a break from the holiday madness, try a leisurely stroll or drive around these neighborhoods:

HONOLULU

Kalihi: 3145 Kalihi St.: The Duenas family's display includes a large, lighted parol — a traditional Filipino Christmas decoration — and features a manger scene. Returning are their palm trees, animated reindeer donning lei and sunglasses, a Hawaiian Santa, and an animated "Paul" the polar bear and "Sara" the seal. There are also Christmas trees with gifts, icicles all over the house, Mr. and Mrs. Snowman with a child and more.

Downtown: The 23rd annual Honolulu City Lights, with the lighting ceremony Saturday, will be on display throughout the Downtown area nightly through Jan. 1 and carries the theme, "Ku'u Home — Our Home." Details: www.honolulucitylights.org.

Pauoa: 2331 Booth Road: Christmas displays in tribute to the men and women fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan and also to President-elect Barack Obama.

Punchbowl: 1553 Miller St.: Lindy Franca and family have Santas, snowmen, carolers, Winnie-the-Pooh, a 5-foot wreath, nativity scene and more.

Manoa: 2672 Lowrey Ave.: The Allen family continues its decorating tradition, which started more than 25 years ago. New this year: an elf holding a candy cane, a "Merry Christmas" sign and a 5-foot wreath. Their collection of 50 characters includes a nativity scene, Mr. and Mrs. Claus, Frosty, several elf characters and a sleigh set. It also includes Disney characters, such as Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Winnie-the-Pooh and much more. The Allens also have a banner displaying the need for donating blood during the holiday season. Hours: 6-9:30 p.m. nightly.

McCully: 723 Hau'oli St.: A 7-foot-high rotating Ferris wheel with Santa Claus, a reindeer and a snowman is on display at the home of Stanette and Raphael Vares Jr. Back again are an animated carousel; lighted carolers Charlie Brown, Lucy and Linus; a singing snowman; mechanical reindeer; and a bear-themed house with a skiing bear. Also look for a gingerbread house, Santa and Mrs. Claus, Santa's Christmas Countdown, a mechanical rocking horse and a nativity scene with choir boys.

Palolo: 2306 Kuahea St.: A multitude of "blow molds" and festive lights adorn the Chivers' home on the corner of Kuahea Street and Wai'oma'o Road in Palolo Valley. Season favorites include a complete nativity scene, Santa and Mrs. Claus, Frosty, toy soldiers and lots more.

Kahala: 3969 Kaualio Place: Find Christmas on the slopes of Diamond Head at the Lee family's home, which will be festooned with lighted and inflatable animals, a merry-go-round of lights and various ornaments depicting the holiday season.

Hawai'i Kai: 530 Kaumakani St.: Walter Tanaka will have about 7,300 miniature lights, including 10 different lighted displays mounted on the fence and roof of his home.

Niu Valley: 240 Panio St.: Check out the elves, wooden figures, trees and nativity scene at the home of the Charles Martin family.

LEEWARD O'AHU

Waikele: 94-226 'Anapau Place: A synchronized light and music show is part of the Yoshidas' Christmas display.

Waipahu: 94-471 Palai St.: The Feethams' display is a mixture of lights all around the house and landscaping, lighted reindeer and inflatables. There will be musical synchronization of the lights on trees and bushes. Note: The home won the 2006 Village Park Best Christmas Decoration award.

'Ewa Beach: 91-053 Pahuhu Way: More than 10,000 lights and 50 figurines adorn this winter wonderland. This is the 28th year of the display, which now resides in 'Ewa Gentry. The Olivares family has created a winter chalet; snow glistens on the ground in the form of white miniature lights. Favorites include a Santa snowglobe, an animated Santa and reindeer, manger scene, candy cane borders, Santa's toy train, a snowman and toy soldiers. New this year: two porcelain winter town scenes and more animated Christmas figurines. The display will be ready Dec. 5.

'Ewa Beach: Kaiakua Street: It's almost a requirement to decorate your home for the holidays if you live on this Ocean Pointe street. For the past several years, residents have been stringing thousands of lights between their houses and staging every imaginable holiday display on their front lawns. It's a must-see.

'Ewa Beach: 91-1146 Ha'i'ano Place: Frank and Wanda Suster's home will have 5,000 lights and more than 100 plywood cutout characters, including a life-size Santa and Mrs. Santa. There also will be a sled with reindeer, a large manger scene and a wooden train set with elves. Hours: 6-10 p.m.

Kapolei: The annual Kapolei City Lights event takes place 5-9 p.m. Saturday at Kapolei Hale with food booths, entertainment and free keiki games. An electric light parade will make its way around the community at 6 p.m. and a tree lighting ceremony will cap off the festivities at 7:30 p.m. The Christmas tree, which will be in front of Kapolei Hale, will be lit through Jan. 1.

Kapolei: Hanapa'a Street: The families of this cul-de-sac invite you to a Christmas display that will include lighted arched driveways, animated characters, gingerbread houses, various inflatables, holiday Heineken and Bud Ice trees and about 20 other Christmas trees throughout the yards. For the full effect, visit after the lighting ceremony (see cover story).

Kapolei: 91-1049 Keokolo St.: The Piamontes' home in Kekuilani features a nativity scene, as well as wooden cutouts of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and penguins and more.

Nanakuli: 89-089 'Aone Place: Al and Becky Ayau have dolled up their home with lights and their yard with Christmas trees, reindeer and characters from "Finding Nemo," "Lilo & Stitch" and more.

Ma'ili: 87-1029-A Hakimo Road: Bob and Julie Herodias have erected numerous inflatables, more than 200 lighted figures and 10,000 lights around their home, featuring lighted sculptures of a train, candy cane arch and North Pole sign. Also look for arctic, Disney, gingerbread, tropical garden, North Pole, South Pole and nativity scenes and more. Hours: 6:30-8:30 p.m. nightly through Dec. 26.

Wai'anae: 86-037 Ho'aha St.: The whole house will be covered in glorious, colorful lights, from the roof to the ground. In the front yard: a Christmas tree and reindeer, surrounded by candy canes. The trees and the perimeter will be lighted with clear lights.

Wai'anae: 85-524 Momona Place: Here see a miniature winter wonderland Christmas village.

CENTRAL O'AHU, NORTH SHORE

'Aiea: 99-149 Kulina St.: The Andres family decorated both inside and outside their home with thousands of lights to create a winter wonderland in paradise.

'Aiea: 98-1603 Ka'ahumanu St.: Misti Benoza's additions include two inflatable snowmen and two trains circling a Christmas tree. Back again are the mechanical elf workshop, Goofy and Donald Duck, Santa on a seesaw, Mickey Mouse, an angel scene, igloo and more. The family will pass out candies to onlookers while supplies last.

'Aiea: 98-1616 Ho'olaua'e St.: The Matias family — including grandchildren Kingsley, Kash, Kasy, Justin, Jonathan and Jaclyn — have decorated their yard and home with more than 10,000 lights, Disney and "Sesame Street" characters, Care Bears, a snow family, nativity scene, 32 lighted Santas, a Norfolk pine and patriotic wreaths.

'Aiea: 'Auhau Place: If you're in 'Aiea, drop by this short street, where a few neighbors decorate each year.

Pearl City: 98-1297 Ho'ohuali Place: The Aki 'ohana presents their 32nd annual display, "A Keiki Wonderland 2007," which includes cartoon characters like the Little Mermaid and Flounder; Lilo, Nani and Stitch; Thomas the Tank Engine; Bratz; and Dora the Explorer. There will also be Merrie Bear, Frosty the Snowman, Santa and holiday penguins throughout the house. Candy canes will light up the fence, Hawaiian palm trees will take the place of Christmas trees and everything will be set to holiday music. Hours: 6-10 p.m. through Jan. 1.

Pearl City: 1474 Kaleilani St.: Jesus and Kaleo Espinosa have decorated their two-story home with an inflatable carousel, lighted gingerbread house, Winnie-the-Pooh, Tigger, a Santa, reindeer, a tin soldier, a snowman family and other inflatables and lights.

Mililani: 94-538 Hokuala St.: Letecia Panoncillo and family have strings of lights along the roof and walls of their home. Also on their roof: a Christmas tree, reindeer, angels, nativity set and wreath, and five more wreaths on their lanai.

Mililani: Neleau Place. The eight families living in this cul-de-sac are once again illuminating their homes with traditional favorites, such as Santas and reindeer, as well as various character themes, including "Happy Feet," My Little Pony, Care Bears, "Finding Nemo," Scooby Doo and Sanrio characters.

Mililani: 95-1030 Kahakiki St.: Check out the Matsumotos' lawn decor, a wooden cutout of Mumble, a character from "Happy Feet." There will also be handmade cutouts of "Finding Nemo" characters (Nemo, Dory and Squirt), Curious George and Thomas the Tank Engine.

Waialua: 66-905 Alena Loop: Mr. and Mrs. Julian Rillamas Jr. and 'ohana are once again celebrating the season with their elaborate outdoor exhibit. The couple — along with children Gina, Doral, Jimbo, Alissa, Lavina and Jonathan; and grandchildren Easter-Lily, April-May, Decembers Christmas Noel, Oursavior and Joshua — have created a display featuring an inflatable and musical Mr. and Mrs. Snowman, dolled-up bears and a 14-foot giraffe dressed up for the holidays. There will also be optic-lighted snowmen along the fence, a musical and animated Santa Claus, a sleigh with Rudolph and the other reindeer, nativity scene, miniature Christmas village, lighted candy canes and much more.

Hale'iwa: Kamehameha Highway. Many of the homes and businesses along this main street in Hale'iwa Town once again will be aglow with strings of lights.

La'ie: 55-600 Naniloa Loop: Need your spiritual fix? The visitor's center of the temple for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will feature 16 Christmas trees decorated by different stakes on O'ahu, all based on themes from the scriptures. The display goes up Friday and continues through New Year's.

WINDWARD O'AHU

Kailua: 1087 Alahaki St.: The Hepfner family's holiday display has a tropical theme, with a surfboard-riding Santa and lighted palm trees. They'll also have a mechanical Ferris wheel, snowman and penguin pair, Santa in a train, a homemade mantel adorned with stuffed animals and an inflatable snowman penguin.

Kailua: 1170 'Akumu St.: Mike and PeeCee Brede's tradition this year includes decorations around the house and yard. More than 10,000 colored lights are synchronized to Christmas music — with animal inflatables, too (though not on windy nights). Hours: 6-8:30 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 6-9:30 p.m. Fridays-Sundays

Kane'ohe: As part of the Windward City Lights, the Christmas tree fronting the Kane'ohe fire station and the decorations fronting the Kane'ohe police station across the street will be lit through Jan. 1.

Kane'ohe: 47-269-F Hui 'Iwa St.: This year marks the 14th year of Disney-themed decor at Cliford and Paula Nakaoka's townhouse, which has been nicknamed the Disney House. There are more than 75 Disney plywood cutouts. Also: characters from "High School Musical," "Enchanted" and "Ratatouille." You can also find characters from "Alice in Wonderland," "Cars," "Chicken Little," "The Nightmare Before Christmas," "The Incredibles," "Home on the Range," "101 Dalmatians" and more. Disney music will play nightly through the first week of January.

Kane'ohe: 46-201 'Ohala St.: The massive display of Andrea Rodrigues-Gum and her dad, Mel Rodrigues, includes a 10-foot-long inflatable of Christmas critters that flash on and off to holiday songs. Other yard inflatables include Santa coming out of a chimney, a penguin outside of an igloo, Snoopy, Scooby Doo, a hot rod Santa, motorcycle Santa with reindeer and Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse on a sleigh. Lighted figurines include Tigger, Goofy, a gingerbread man, gingerbread tree, toy soldiers, drummer boys, candy canes, an elf, snowman, honey bear, Santa Claus and a nativity scene and more.

Kane'ohe: Wena Street: Several houses on this street will be glowing by mid-December, showcasing toyland schemes and a range of holiday and cartoon figures.

Kane'ohe: 45-365 Namoku St.: Lois and Kimo Lake are getting into the holiday spirit with their annual wonderland, which features an inflatable merry-go-round on the garage and Santa, Rudolph and blinking candy canes on the roof of the house. In the yard are a polar bear in a boat pulled by six lighted dolphins, palm trees, frogs, reindeer and a seven 15-foot Christmas trees decorated with different themes. There are lights and ornaments everywhere.

'Ahuimanu: Hui Koloa Place: Visiting this festive street — also known as "Christmas Lane" — is a Windward tradition, though some of the original families who started it have moved on.