Gingerbread Festival reaches end after 16-year holiday run

After a 16-year run, the Gingerbread Festival, a popular charity event and holiday tradition for hundreds of island families statewide, has been discontinued.

Easter Seals Hawaii officials informed supporters Friday of their decision to end the event held on four islands.

“Each year the Easter Seals Hawaii staff would look forward to seeing so many of you from the community come together to kick off the holiday season,” an email letter said. “That is why it took much deliberation, consideration and exploration of many other alternatives before we came to the conclusion to not have the Gingerbread Festival this year.”

The festival had outgrown its staffing and funding resources, explained the Hawaii branch of Easter Seals, a nonprofit organization with a mission to provide individualized, family-centered services to empower people with disabilities or special needs to achieve their goals and live independently.

The festival was started in 1999.

“As a result, we are taking a step back to evaluate different ways we will hopefully continue to be a part of families’ holiday traditions and also work within our resources,” it said.

One participant raved in December 2013 that the Gingerbread Festival was “an awesome fundraising event to attend if you have children, want to get into the holiday spirit or want to showcase your craftiness.”

Families and companies constructed gingerbread houses for fun and competition. The event also featured live entertainment, photos with Santa and Christmas card crafting, as well as specialty gifts.

“There is no way to truly thank you all for your enthusiasm and support given to Easter Seals Hawaii through the Gingerbread Festival over the years!” Easter Seals said.

The nonprofit asks for supporters’ continued help by considering giving Easter Seals Hawaii’s holiday baskets as a gift to family, friends and business clients.

The baskets contain local products and might also provide a tax-deductible benefit to the giver.

Baskets contain a variety of Big Island Delights, a plant and a pineapple. The baskets are $50 and $100 each, and $20 and $40 of that is a tax-deductible donation.

Proceeds go to necessary programs and services for children and adults with disabilities and other special needs in Hawaii.

To order a basket online, go to easterseals.com/hawaii/baskets.html.

For more information, call Shandis Ching, events manager, at 529-1708 or email holidaybaskets@eastersealshawaii.org.