Out & About: 10 Things to Do for the Holidays 2018
Our picks of the best family events this season.
November 3 (Start Date)
Pictures with Santa Paws
Photos: Getty Images
Sit (and staaaay) for a holiday portrait of your family and pet with Santa Paws. A $30 donation to the Hawaiian Humane Society includes a session with a professional photographer and digital copies of the photos.
Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 3 and 4, at the Hawaiian Humane Society, Dec. 1 and 2, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lau Hala Shops in Kailua, all ages, (808) 356-2247, hawaiianhumane.org
December 1
Honolulu City Lights Block Party and Parade
Honolulu Hale comes alive with keiki rides, free photos with Santa, balloon artists, tree-lighting and an electric-light parade on King Street. New this year are a dozen food trucks parked along Punchbowl Street, where families can pick up Thai food, poi mochi, shave ice, lechon and more. Park for free in the Fasi Municipal Building (enter from Beretania Street). The holiday décor stays up through New Year’s Day.
Honolulu Hale and surrounding areas, all ages, Saturday, Dec. 1, 4 to 11 p.m., honolulucitylights.org
December 7 (Start Date)
Elephant & Piggie’s “WE ARE IN A PLAY!”
Can a pachyderm and porker get along? Learn about the power of friendship in this Honolulu Theatre for Youth musical adaptation of Elephant & Piggie, the best-selling book series by Mo Willems. The sensory-friendly performance with American Sign Language interpretation is at 11 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 26. OnStage Workshop is at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 19.
Opens Friday, Dec. 7, 7 p.m., select weekends through Jan. 26, all ages, (808) 839-9885, htyweb.org or hnltix.com
December 7
A Touch of Christmas
Spend a Friday evening at Kroc Center Hawai‘i, where keiki can adorn a gingerbread house, visit a live Nativity scene, play games and get into the holiday spirit. This free public event includes food for purchase.
Kroc Center Hawai‘i, Friday, Dec. 7, 6:30 to 9 p.m., all ages, (808) 682-5505, kroccenterhawaii.org
December 8
Kapolei City Lights Opening Night and Parade
West O‘ahu lights up its holiday season with live entertainment, keiki activities, photos with Santa and an electric light parade along Kapolei Parkway. The parade begins at 6 p.m. Parking is available at the Kakuhihewa state office building.
Kapolei Hale, Saturday, Dec. 8, 5 to 9 p.m., all ages, kapoleicitylights.com
December 15 (Start Date)
Breakfast with Santa
Get your game on and reserve seats for a fun-filled morning with Santa. After a breakfast buffet and photos with the man himself, kids can get their faces airbrush-painted and request balloon animals, then head upstairs to the arcade with complimentary Power Cards.
Dave & Buster’s, Saturday, Dec. 15, and Sunday, Dec. 16, 8 to 10:30 a.m., all ages, (808) 589-2215, daveandbusters.com/locations/honolulu
December 16
Jingle Rock Run
Dig up your holiday-themed workout gear and head over to the Hawai‘i State Capitol for a festive run. This lively fundraiser is for Make-A-Wish Hawai‘i, which grants wishes for children with critical illnesses. Music and food trucks are ready to go by 3 p.m., followed by the 12-and-under keiki sprint and 5K run/walk. Pets are welcome!
State Capitol Building, Sunday, Dec. 16, 3 to 7 p.m., all ages, hawaii.wish.org
January 13
New Year’s ‘Ohana Festival
Ring in 2019—the year of the boar—with traditional Japanese arts and crafts, keiki games, food booths and mochi pounding. Although this event is free, there are small fees for food and certain activities. A complimentary shuttle is available between the Japanese Cultural Center and the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa parking garage.
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i, Sunday, Jan. 13, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., all ages, (808) 945-7633, jcch.com
Spirit of Giving
Ways to help out other families this holiday season.
Adopt A Family
Help out financially strapped families by fulfilling their holiday wish lists. Sign up to be matched with a family before Dec. 5, then buy new items and drop them off by Saturday, Dec. 8, at the Helping Hands Hawai‘i Community Clearing House in Kalihi.
Salvation Army Hawai‘i Angel Tree
Head to a Central Pacific Bank location, or Kāhala Mall, Windward Mall or Pearlridge Center, to pick a tree tag listing items needed by keiki and kūpuna. Shop for the items, then drop them off at the same site. The program begins Saturday, Nov. 17 at Windward Mall, and Friday, Nov. 23 at all other locations.
There’s More!
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