December’s financial indiscretions turn into January’s regrets and resolutions. Break the cycle now
without denying yourself the joys of the season by choosing free fun instead of pricey distractions,
and feel savvy all season long.
DEC. 1: Feel the wintry chill in the tropics at Kapolei Commons’ Snow Day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The shopping center is hosting keiki crafts, caroling, visits with Santa and bringing in 10 tons of snow. The snow will be in the parking area across from Down to Earth at 4450 Kapolei Parkway. Visit www.thekapoleicommons.com. Look for the blizzard to return to Kapolei with more snow Dec. 8 for Kapolei Shopping Center’s Santa Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. near Safeway. Visit www.inKapolei.com.
Kick off the season with the Mayor’s Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and Parade, sponsored by the City and County of Honolulu. Thousands line the path from Chinatown to Honolulu Hale every year to see the 2,000 marchers, 40 vehicles, 15 floats and 15 bands. The parade starts at 6 p.m. at Aala Park and winds down King Street.
DEC. 2: The fifth annual Na Mele o na Keiki (Music for the Children) concert will take place at 2 p.m. at Hawaii Theatre. The concert, which stars Henry Kapono, Ginai, Aidan James and more, supports the Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots Hawaii, and attendees are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy. Free tickets (limit of six per person) can be picked up at the theater box office, which is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit www.hawaiitheatre.com and click on "events."
DEC. 3: Enter the Star-Advertiser’s Keiki Kalikimaka ornament contest. If your child’s ornament is chosen to run in the newspaper, he or she will be eligible for the drawing to win one of three prizes. Click here for the entry coupon and rules.
DEC. 4: Let the kids build a reindeer at the Lego Store’s free monthly "Minibuild" session that starts at 5 p.m. until supplies run out, at Ala Moana Center.
DEC. 5: Get in the Christmas mood by taking the family for a walk though the trees at Helemano Farms, 1750 Whitmore Ave. in Wahiawa. Pose in the forest of Norfolk Island pine and Leland cypress trees for your Christmas card photo. The strolling is free, but while you’re there, buy a tree to support the local economy and avoid the banana slugs on mainland imports. The farm is open Tuesdays through Fridays from noon to sunset, and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to sunset. Visit www.helemanofarms.com.
DEC. 6: The Kaimuki Christmas Parade will wind up Waialae Avenue from Saint Louis School/Chaminade University to Koko Head Avenue from 6 to 8 p.m. The event is expected to have 1,500 marchers and 40 vehicles.
DEC. 7: Barnes & Noble is hosting a "Polar Express" party with a reading of the classic children’s book at 7 p.m. at both the Kahala and Ala Moana stores. At Kahala there will be holiday treats and activities. The Ala Moana store asks keiki to come in their pajamas and enjoy hot chocolate and cookies.
DEC. 8: Santa ditches his sleigh for a canoe and arrives on the beach fronting the Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach at 9 a.m. Keiki will greet him with the gift of hula dancing. Bring your camera to snap a picture with the man in red.
Hawaii State Ballet charges for its annual performances of "The Nutcracker" at Mamiya Theatre, but catch selections performed by the junior company on stage at 10 a.m. at Kahala Mall.
It’s not a local-style Christmas if the Honolulu Boy Choir hasn’t wished you the "Merriest Hawaiian Christmas." See its show at Ala Moana Centerstage from 7 to 7:45 p.m, or hear the group of expressive boys sing their full repertoire at Central Union Church from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 15.
Central Union Church, 1660 S. Beretania St., stages its drive-through Nativity scene from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
DEC. 9: This year marks Central Union Church’s 65th presentation of Handel’s "Messiah." Hear the choir at 7 p.m. in the church sanctuary. Call 941-0957.
DEC. 10: Download an advent calendar app to help the kids count down till Christmas. There are plenty of versions available for free, including MagicSolver’s app that calls up simple games and activities when you light a candle in each numbered window. The app then links you to additional downloadable seasonal apps, some of them free.
DEC. 11: The Sheraton Princess Kaiulani, 120 Kaiulani Ave., has its annual ornate gingerbread display in the hotel’s lobby through Jan. 2. This year, executive chef Ralf Bauer has added the Eiffel Tower, London’s Tower Bridge and a Japanese pagoda to the creation, called "Hawaii and the World, a Global Holiday Celebration." The village stands more than 14 1⁄2 feet high and 24 feet wide and comprises 250 gallons of icing, 150 pounds of dark chocolate, five pounds of white chocolate and 90 sheets of gingerbread. On Dec. 17, employees of the Outrigger Reef on the Beach, 2169 Kalia Road, are assembling their gingerbread display. Call 923-3111.
DEC. 12: Honolulu City Lights is open all month long, but if you wander the grounds of Honolulu Hale on Dec. 14, kids can participate in "Santa’s Underwater Adventure" from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. There will be keiki activities and educational materials about Hanauma Bay in a tent adjacent to the Christmas display. Other special nights: Free photos with Santa, 7:30 to 9 p.m. Dec. 1 at Mission Memorial Auditorium, adjacent to Honolulu Hale. Free photos with Santa, 7 to 9 p.m. Dec. 15 and 22 in the Honolulu Hale Courtyard. Free milk and coffee 7 to 9 p.m. Dec. 21 on the steps of Honolulu Hale.
DEC. 13: Kids can communicate with Santa using American Sign Language when Deaf Santa and his Interpreting Elves make an appearance at Pearlridge Uptown from 9 a.m. to noon. Visit www.pearlridgeonline.com.
DEC. 14: Take a 30-minute tour of Pearl Harbor and view the ships and submarines decked out in lights for the holiday season. Boats leave every 15 minutes from 6:15 to 8 p.m. Dec. 14-16 from Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. Email your name, requested time and date and the number of tickets you need to holidayharborlightstour@gmail.com to reserve seats.
DEC. 15: Watch one of the two Christmas boat parades happening tonight. The 16th annual Festival of Lights parade will send illuminated vessels down the Hawaii Kai Marina waterway past Hawaii Kai Towne Center from 6 to 8 p.m. Entertainment starts at 4:30 p.m. and includes a concert by Maunalua. Visit www.hawaiikaitownecenter.com. Or head over to Magic Island to watch the Hawaii Yacht Club Christmas Boat Parade at 6:30 p.m. More than 20 boats will join the floating show of lights. Visit www.HawaiiYachtClub.org.
DEC. 16: Listen to the chiming melodies of the Mele Mai Paki Lima Handbell Choir (2 to 3 p.m.) and visit with Santa at the Honolulu Museum of Art’s Bank of Hawaii Family Sunday event from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 532-8700.
DEC. 17: The annual Christmas synchronized light show at Ala Moana’s Centerstage, Mele Trees of Light, will chime daily at 6, 6:30, 8 and 8:30, 9 and 9:30 p.m. through Dec. 23. The 10-minute show finishes up with a crowd-pleasing cascade of faux snow. Windward Mall also boasts a snowing tree that cascades foamy bubbles on the heads of delighted keiki for 15 minutes at the top of each hour from noon to 8 p.m. daily through Dec. 24. The tree stops its flurries at 5 p.m. on Sundays.
DEC. 18: Kids aren’t ready for Christmas if they haven’t written a letter to Santa. Macy’s has its Santa Mailboxes up in every store and is donating $1 for each stamped letter received to the Make-a-Wish Foundation, up to $1 million. Visit macys.com/believe. Or stop by the letter-writing station at Windward Mall before Dec. 24. Include a stamp and keiki will receive a reply from Santa at home. Visit www.windwardmall.com for more information or to try out the site’s online coloring book and to read a personalized note from Kris Kringle.
DEC. 19: Visit with the Grinch from Dr. Seuss’ "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" at 9:30 a.m. at Pearl City Public Library. Or pose for pictures with Santa at 6:30 p.m. at Kapolei Public Library and watch puppeteer Christy Lipps tell stories and perform songs using her handcrafted menagerie of puppets. Visit librarieshawaii.org.
DEC. 20: Storyteller and librarian Vicky Dworkin has prepared a program of stories about the winter holidays of Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. ‘Tis the Season Storytime is performed at 6:30 p.m. at Kailua Public Library. Other appearance dates are 1 p.m. Dec. 8 at Liliha Public Library and 10:30 a.m. at the Hawaii State Library. Visit librarieshawaii.org.
DEC. 21: The mythical creatures of Mermaids Hawai‘i are swishing their tails and showcasing their synchronized swimming routines at 5:30 p.m. at the Princess Kaiulani Hotel, 120 Kaiulani Avenue. Visit www.MermaidsHawaii.com.
DEC. 22: Settle in and get your Christmas wrapping or baking done while you watch the holiday classics marathon on ABC Family, followed by all three "The Santa Clause" movies.
DEC. 23: It’s the 30th anniversary of the "Live Nativity" at Waioli Gardens in Manoa. The performance begins every half-hour from 7 to 9 p.m. Dec. 21-24 at 2950 Manoa Road. Watch the actors and live animals re-enact the birth of Jesus, accompanied by Christmas carols.
DEC. 24: Check Santa’s progress at www.noradsanta.org. The North American Aerospace Defense Command has been monitoring the man in red as he delivers toys around the world for more than 50 years.
DEC. 25: Spend the day with loved ones and have a merry Christmas!
