We are honored to introduce Dr. Thomas Redens, M.D. who has joined our ‘ohana to serve the communities on both Kaua’i and the Big Island. Dr. Redens brings over 25 years of experience in ophthalmology, specializing in cataract surgery and corneal care. His expertise in complex cataract procedures and corneal transplants makes him a remarkable addition to our family, and his commitment to exceptional patient care aligns with our mission to serve Hawai’i with compassion and excellence.
The holidays are here, and as the spirit of the season is among us, we often try to replicate what made the season feel so magical to us in our youth. The traditions we set for our families typically mirror some of what we experienced as a child, whether the smells, sounds, lights, activities, or a combination of them all reflect that best.
Growing up, I had a fun tradition of a progressive dinner with each course at a different aunt and uncle's house until we ended at my grandparents' for dessert and a present. Every year, the present was a new pair of socks. We all knew it was coming, but we still loved knowing the gifts would be under the tree and that we would get to open one. Those evenings were so special with the family and excitement for Christmas morning.
This month, we wanted to highlight the season's magic and what our Big Island has to offer that helps spread holiday cheer. We focused on those who give back to our community: Afa Tualaulelei, a Kealakehe High School educator, and Jeff Silva, a local fisherman and steward of Hawaiian history and culture, embody this generosity. We also highlight the West Hawaiʻi Dance Theatre's classic and worldclass production of The Nutcracker, right here in our own backyard.
While this season can be beautiful for some, it can be painful and lonely for others, especially those who have recently lost a loved one. In the true spirit of the season, let’s take care of those in our ʻohana who need assistance or are alone. My hope for you this season is that you feel love and peace and that we all remember to take care of each other, extending grace, empathy and love.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
JOHNNY GILLESPIE, PUBLISHER
December 2024
PUBLISHER
Johnny Gillespie | johnny.gillespie@citylifestyle.com
Fletch Photography, Liam Tattersall, Living Stones Church, and Susi Childers
Corporate Team
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Zack Miller
LAYOUT DESIGNER Kathy Nguyen
Fuzzy Feelings
Pouring Without Reservation
ARTICLE BY SARA BURNS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY LIVING STONES CHURCH
Fuzzy Feelings
Finding warmth and meaning in a tropical Christmas
Has it ever struck you as funny that we decorate with snowmen and icicles in Hawaiʻi? I don’t know about you, but December 1st hits, and you can find me snuggled up with hot cocoa in front of my Amazon fireplace, listening to those logs crackle (ok, ok, November 1st). Why do we have such a nostalgic connection to all things winter other than hoping longingly for a dip in temperature? Is 70 too much to ask? Christmas is the time of the year when we collectively get nostalgic, and everyone innately knows you should be a little nicer. Where did this come from?
Many narratives contribute to modern Christmas's strong culture: consider the Nativity, St. Nicholas, and A Christmas Story. Just kidding, that only taught us never to lick a frozen metal post. We have made a collage in our culture of all the Christmas traditions, and now we feel warm and fuzzy just thinking of Hallmark movies, stockings and cookies.
But deeper than this, there is a longing. We long for good times with people we love, for peace with people we hate, and for everything to be okay. We long for happiness, if even for a day. All the songs sing about it. All the movies have a poignant philosophical moment where we discuss “what really matters.” If there isn’t a happy ending, it is not a Christmas movie.
The need for a moment of perfection on Christmas Day can be enough to drive many people
to despair. What if I can’t capture even one day, one hour of peace? What if I have no one to share Christmas with — the holiday about friends and family? We run around all year looking for peace and happiness, and then it culminates in one frenzied rush to the finish line, where we hope to find it by a lit-up evergreen.
Returning to the original Christmas, we see baby Jesus born. This Christmas hero came and lived a perfect life, so if our lives are a mess, we can ask for his as a substitute. We may be drowning in more than our fair share of spiked eggnog, but it doesn’t mask our true thirst. If you’re looking for warm fuzzies this Christmas, pull that old Bible off the shelf and see that this light of the world is better than a fake fireplace and fuzzy slippers to make you feel okay. He is the sigh at the happy ending. Only he can satisfy you at Christmas and every day.
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“Only he can satisfy you at Christmas and every day.”
Pouring Without Reservations
While people seek purpose, educators dedicate their lives to helping children find theirs
ARTICLE BY MATIAS ARREDONDO PHOTOGRAPHY BY LIAM TATTERSALL
We give depending on what we grow in our hearts. If we are selfish, our actions and words will reflect it, but if we cultivate selflessness, that will come out of us, too. For Afa Tualaulelei, being a Kealakehe High School educator is an opportunity to give what he received at home.
CONTINUED >
Like many of us, Afa didn’t always know his calling. His first major was education, but he soon changed it to sports and recreational management. He earned a football scholarship to attend school in Nebraska. Then, he returned to the Big Island to become a personal trainer and later a security guard.
In 2017, one of his middle school teachers, Dayle Yokoyama, asked him to consider teaching PE and Polynesian Culture and Dance at Kealakehe intermediate. As he missed having a community around him, he accepted.
“I got thrown into it. Some good colleagues and friends helped me navigate throughout my first year. After that, I redefined myself and ended up teaching the high school’s Alternative Learning Program,” Afa says.
This hands-on program is aimed at students with learning difficulties. It was started in 2019 by Richard Kamoku, who partnered with organizations like the Queen Lili’uokalani Trust and the Kohanaiki Foundation to give students access to their properties. This initiative removes the four walls setting and approaches every day as a field trip outside the classroom.
His group of friends growing up in Kona inspired Afa to work with such cases. Although his family structure encouraged learning, most of his close friends were in single-parent homes or raised by their grandparents. Naturally, they gravitated toward Afa’s ʻohana, who was always there for them.
“They accepted and wanted me to be a part of their lives because I didn't judge where they came from or what was happening at home. I learned that I could help people feel comfortable, and then I took that as a skill and continued it through education,” he shares.
Growing up, whenever Afa didn't understand a concept, he would simplify it. He related with those struggling with learning because he knew the information didn't make sense through their eyes. So, he would explain it differently. He not only applied this reasoning for subjects like math, English, or social studies but also for his passion.
“My dad is a fire knife dancer. He would take me to the lūʻau shows when I was four or five. I would sit with a spotlight guy and watch him. I got inspired, so I started fire-dancing,” Afa says.
This unique skill has become one of the connecting points with students. When school counselors refer them to the Alternative Learning Program, Afa can influence their daily lives. “Fire knife is something you must be a little courageous to do. Students who have a rough background tend to be the ones who want to fire dance.”
With a zero dropout rate, since he joined the Alternative Learning Program, the youth found in Afa new inspiration to keep learning. He also started the Kona Polynesian Club with the help of Joseph Mikaele, uniting Kealakehe and Konawaena High School students. This past summer, he took eleven of those students to New Zealand. However, they didn’t represent their individual high schools; instead, they represented the whole Kona community.
“At school, we talk too much. But no one’s gonna listen to me if they don’t trust me. They’re not going to internalize what I’m saying.”
However, Afa is not alone in this endeavor. Uncle Reggie Lee and Uncle Walter Wong, facilitated the collaboration to re-thatch the hale at Kohanaiki. This partnership integrated social studies of Hawaiian culture, science through growing and harvesting palm leaves, and math when the students calculated the correct amount of leaves they could stick, following precise patterns and rotations.
Afa always respected Uncle Reggie for his knowledge and dedication to the community. Being Hawaiian and Samoan, Afa also shares the same ethnicity as Uncle Walter, but what he admires most about him is how he makes people comfortable enough to open up to learn. This is the type of environment he wants to create for the youth on our island.
The Alternative Learning Program encompasses all subjects, and under Afa’s leadership, his class is exposed to various perspectives on which to apply their knowledge. “One day, we’re up the mountain or down at the ocean. One day, we help an organization. And the next day, we're getting our lifeguard certification,” Afa shares.
Yet, the journey is not always smooth. Sometimes, teachers hit a wall, and the stress of the daily routine makes them want to quit. In those moments, Afa reminds himself not to focus on the result but on the little breakthroughs, like when a student shows appreciation. “What keeps me going? Small wins turn into big wins at the end of the year. The micro growths are attendance. It's the mood and behavior from the first time I observed them (the students).”
“Teachers here in Kona: you’re doing a wonderful job. Where you’re at is because you’re supposed to be there.”
Afa warns educators not to be tempted to solve other people’s lives immediately. He advises pouring into the relationship first. “At school, we talk too much. But no one's gonna listen to me if they don't trust me. They're not going to internalize what I'm saying. Just give it time. When they start trusting you, then they start following you. If everybody respects you, they're going to learn from you. After I do that process with them, it's just continuing to show up every day.”
At age 33, this man’s work doesn’t end when his shift ends. He goes home to his wife and two little daughters and continues pouring into other people’s lives.
“Teachers here in Kona: you're doing a wonderful job. Where you're at is because you're supposed to be there. You're probably not going to get it right now, but at the end of the year, you left a legacy, and you don't even know you did,” Afa says.
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WEST HAWAIʻI DANCE THEATRE’S MARVELOUS TAKE ON THE CLASSIC NUTCRACKER BALLET
ARTICLE BY JOHNNY GILLESPIE
When Virginia Holte moved to the Big Island in 1986 after a successful dance career, her impact on the dance world was just beginning.
“I started a couple of classes at the Aloha Theatre — we had just five students.” She realized there was a lot of talent on the Big Island, but not many who could develop it. “Dance teachers dream to have this many talented kids,” says Virginia. Three of those five original students would have
BY SUSI
CHILDERS
PHOTOGRAPHY
major dance careers. West Hawaiʻi Dance Theatre was born to provide world-class training for our local talent.
When speaking to Virginia about her passion for dance training, it’s easy to see that her students are the focus. “They all go on to do amazing things. The discipline carries over into the rest of life. They have to be smart to learn the choreography, learn how to work in a group, help each other, and there is no competition in the studio.” Within a few years, Virginia and her team trained over a hundred young dancers annually.
In 1989, West Hawaiʻi Dance Theatre launched a Christmas performance of The Nutcracker, and soon showcased the full performance of Tchaikovsky’s classic twoact ballet. They initially struggled with slow ticket sales and financial loss, but that was soon to change.
Moving the production to the Waimea’s Kahului Theatre was key. “We had the space and the tech team to do it really well,” says Virginia. For the last decade, tickets have been selling out.
The Nutcracker is a unique and beautiful ballet, a Christmas story set to the
“I LOVE TO BRING THE JOY OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON.”
beautiful refrains of Tchaikovsky’s musical masterpiece. It features roles for all skill levels, from child ballerinas just beginning their training to choreography reserved only for the world-class. Virginia shares, “For many children, this is the first classical ballet they see. It’s a universal art form. There’s something for everyone in it. The 3-year-olds are the baby angels, and there are professionals dancing with them."
Kona Coast had the joy of attending the sold-out 2023 matinée and experience this.
West Hawaiʻi Dance Theatre’s performance is breathtaking. With every seat taken, an enthralled audience waits in breathless anticipation. As the curtain
goes up, exquisite costumes and sets create the atmosphere. Act One opens with the party scene. The dancing is beautiful, and the audience applauds after each scene. As the show progresses, the fairies and angels delight, Mother Ginger brings laughs, and the music suspends all who partake in wonder.
Anticipation builds to a pinnacle as two phenomenal dancers, Amar Ramasar (Principal Dancer, New York City Ballet) and Chloe Missldine (Principal dancer, American Ballet Theater), perform George Balanchine’s choreography of Pas De Deux. It’s difficult to express the wonder of this moment. Two dancers at the peak of
their craft, moving in perfect harmony and elegance to the strains of Tchaikovsky’s Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.
Then the curtain comes down, and all are left in awe, wanting more, wishing the dream not to end.
Our island deserves this kind of artistic excellence. Not just for our residents' enjoyment, but to inspire the next generation so that they, too, could excel and be great.
Virginia shares, “I love it. I’ve danced the Nutcracker so many times with the Chicago Ballet and on tour. I love to bring the joy of the holiday season to people in a calm, beautiful way. This is about carrying on the tradition. Doing it live. A tradition we pass along to the next generation.”
Tickets can be purchased at WHDT.org
GRETCHEN OSGOOD, REALTOR®
Enduring Investments
Precious metals broker/dealer perfects the art of investing in enduring assets, young artists, and the community
ARTICLE BY SARA STOVER
A gold 1967 SS 396 Chevelle cruises toward the landing strip at Old Airport, much like it might have 57 years ago when Kona’s main airport was tucked away at the end of Kuakini Highway.
Three years after the classic car was built, Kona International Airport opened and the original airport closed. Today, Old Airport’s landing strip is plagued with potholes. Bill Armijo’s 1967 Chevelle, however, is still purring.
Over the past 38 years, Bill has perfected investing in enduring assets and artists. His journey began when he spent over a year living on Oʻahu’s North Shore.
“I grew up in Redondo Beach, California, and surfing was a lifestyle,” says Bill. “It led me to Oʻahu, where I surfed and made wire sculptures that were sold at the Royal Hawaiian
Hotel’s Gallery. Although I left in 1971, I knew I would return to Hawaiʻi.”
Back in California, Bill marketed industrial construction tools and traded strategic metals for a Newport Beach brokerage before transferring to a larger precious metals brokerage trader.
“Evidently, I was trading more than brokers that were there already,” says Bill, explaining that precious metals like gold and silver have been used as currency for thousands of years, and are now used in various industrial products, while strategic metals like titanium are used in critical technologies and industries.
“The brokerage owner told me I should have my own business and introduced me to everyone at the Bullion House, banks trading in precious metals, and the depositories. In 1986, I
started Trans World Metals to help folks build a legacy and leave their families tangible, laudable, and valued assets that withstand the test of time, economic fluctuations, geopolitical unrest, inflation, dollar devaluation, and taxation.”
As for his own family, Bill bought them a beach house in Vacationland, Hawaiʻi in 1988, where they spent winter and summer breaks.
“Each time we returned to California, my boys would ask why we were going back if we had a home in Hawaiʻi,” Bill recalls. “I had difficulty answering that question, so in 1994, we moved to Kona permanently and have been here ever since.”
With Hawaiʻi as the broker/dealer’s headquarters, Bill continued helping people
OUR CO MPANY CULTUREIS ONE OF DO BUSINESS IN THE SPIRITOF ALOHA .
preserve their wealth and stabilize their portfolios with the direct delivery of hard asset precious and strategic metals to their home, depository, or IRA/401k account.
“We’re driven to help people become self-sufficient and not dependent on paper assets that could become worthless at any time. We help folks concerned about the value of the dollar and how it can impact their retirement funds, and anyone ready to secure their wealth and their families’ future, walking them through every step of the process,” says Bill, who was joined by his son Justin in running Trans World Metals. “The best part is educating others on how easy it is to buy and own precious and strategic metals, and seeing Hawaiʻi residents keep their business and their money here.”
Although he’s spent nearly four decades focusing on enduring investments, Bill hasn’t forgotten his artistic roots. Today, he handcrafts picture frames, sculptures, and other pieces using koa from felled trees.
“In our artwork, we bring the koa trees back to life, giving back the love and beauty that Hawaiʻi has given our ʻohana. As artists ourselves, we wanted to give back to other artists, so Justin had the vision to expand the scope of Trans World Metals and include Hawaiian Art & Gallery,” says Bill of their online gallery, which assists independent artists in marketing their work. “We mentor, develop, and guide Hawaiʻi’s young artists in the art business so they don’t have to worry about being ‘starving artists’ and can have a stable career. By offering them 60% of proceeds from a sale, they can make a sustainable living and become financially successful members of society.”
When they’re not educating investors and supporting artists, Bill and the Trans World Metals’ ʻohana are busy with philanthropic endeavors, including sponsoring the Standish Children’s Foundation (2022-2023), and the Maui Love and Mālama Maui benefit concerts for families affected by the wildfires.
“We also sponsored the 2023 Enchantress & Freeborne Gallery’s Art 4 Charity event and the 2024 Kauai Art Academy’s Keiki Art Camp,” Bill says, adding they were a corporate sponsor of the Summer Car Show and Fitness Expo at Old Airport, benefitting Shriners Children Hospital and featuring over 280 cars, including the Armijo’s 1967 SS Chevelle.
“Our company culture is one of doing business in the Spirit of Aloha, and giving back to the community,” says Bill. “The goal is to cherish and protect the island, which we can all do by providing a helping hand.”
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A SECOND-GENERATION HAWAIIAN FISHERMAN JOURNEYS TO SHARE VALUES, SKILLS, AND TRADITIONS HANDED DOWN WITH TODAY’S YOUTH AND FUTURE GENERATIONS
Paying
It Forward
ARTICLE BY MARGARET KEARNS | PHOTOGRAPHY
BY FLETCH PHOTOGRAPHY
Miloli‘i native Jeff Silva, 41, of Hawaiian and Portuguese descent, has never let his celebrity as a professional longboard surfer, champion outrigger canoe paddler or his success at business diminish his strong sense of kuleana (responsibility) to preserve and protect Hawai‘i’s rich history and culture, as well as its ‘aina (land) and fragile marine environment.
A father of three, Jeff learned early on the importance of sustainable living on an isolated island in the middle of the Pacific. Growing up in Miloli‘i, a tiny fishing village in South Kona (population roughly 300), he was deep ocean fishing with his father Larry by the time he was 4 and working side by side with him at the family property up mauka, cultivating avocados and coffee on acres of fertile land. Living there also instilled in him the concept of community as ‘ohana (family) – neighbors caring and sharing with one another, living aloha. They are the values he has carried with him throughout the years.
“My father is a hard worker, and together with my uncles, he taught me to be the same. He could be tough, but all he really wanted was to see me succeed, even if he wasn’t thrilled with my decision to forego college to become a pro longboard surfer at age 18,” Jeff says.
It was a decision Jeff made after trading out fishing for surfing nine years earlier when the family moved north. His father, seeing the incredible growth in population, development, and cost of living on the island, gave up fishing and farming for a career as a County Lifeguard at Kahalu‘u Beach Park and Magic Sands Beach – a move he viewed as a more stable and secure way to support the family. Jeff spent those years at the beach with his dad, growing his surfing skills and refining them at Banyans in Kailua-Kona.
CONTINUED >
“It was Banyans that really built my career with its year-round break, both a left and right, perfect turn sections, and challenging waves with solid energy. All of us groms wanted to be Shane Dorian, who was often in the line at that time,” Jeff says.
Perhaps most importantly, however, were the lessons he learned from the “uncles,” not only tips to improve but also pono (correct) surf etiquette. “You followed the protocol or faced the consequences,” he says.
His outstanding longboard skills did not go unnoticed. The Kona Brewing Company offered to sponsor Jeff as part of its Longboard Ale marketing campaign, allowing him to travel the world as its ambassador for eight years. While competing in championships and meeting great people along the way, he also gained even more appreciation for his island home. The experience also rekindled a long-held desire to ensure important lessons of the past are not lost on future generations by undertaking a project in Kona that’s been long in the making.
Continuing to collaborate with Kona Brewing Company after retiring from the pro tour, Jeff says, “I came full circle returning to fishing and starting my own ‘Ula‘Ula Fish Company in 2012, providing the finest ahi tuna, caught sustainably by hook and line, exclusively to Kona Brew.”
At the same time, he began the search for land in Kona that would serve as a base for the company, as well as a gathering place for kupuna (elders) and kumus (teachers) to talk story, share Hawaiian history, values and skills with island keiki (children) before they are lost, he says.
What he found, or as he says, what found him, was a five-acre parcel on Ali‘i Drive that ultimately delivered so much more: sacred and historic archeological sites that had long gone undiscovered as wild vines and native growth took over the property. Owned for years by a local family determined not to sell it for commercial development; on learning of Jeff’s plans, they happily accepted his “take it or leave it offer.” As fate would have it, when Jeff, his wife Kolina, children Lawai‘a, Mele‘iwa and Nai‘i, and a handful of cousins began hand-clearing, the property remains of an ancient fishing village emerged.
With 1.8 acres dedicated to the preservation of those historical sites, the rest will house his 25-foot fishing boat, named for his eldest daughter Mele‘iwa, and its equipment; gardens filled with native plantings (ti leaf, ‘ulu trees, lauhala and plumeria, among them); farm animals; an imu (underground oven) and a spacious gathering hale (house) designed by Kona contractor Winton Nicholson in a style he has dubbed “modern culture.”
“When kumus come, they will find everything they need right here for lei making, hula, lauhala weaving and cooking in traditional style,” Jeff says.
According to Jeff, the goal is to receive non-profit status as an educational organization for the portions of the property dedicated to that purpose, with free programs for keiki and their ‘ohana. He has targeted summer 2025 as the start date for the program. Stay tuned!
Follow Jeff Silva’s journey on Instagram @jeffsilva808 or UlaUlaFish.com.
Guided K a y ak and Snorke l T ou r s
K ea l akek u a B a y
Making Spirits
JOIN OUR MISSION TO SPREAD WARMTH AND COMPASSION BY NOMINATING SOMEONE WHO DESERVES A CHRISTMAS BLESSING
“We believe in giving back and serving the communities where we live in a real and tangible way.”
As the Christmas season approaches, we’re reminded of the power of community and kindness. This year, through City Lifestyle’s nonprofit, The Kingdom Building Foundation, we will help people who may be struggling quietly without the support they need. But we need your help to find them.
Over the past three years, this campaign has grown into something truly beautiful, touching the lives of more than 150 families nationwide last year alone. Each year, we’ve seen firsthand how generosity can bring relief, hope, and a renewed sense of faith in others.
One person we had the opportunity to help was an 11-year-old boy diagnosed with a rare eye cancer. After he had to undergo chemotherapy and surgery to remove his eye, his doctors recommended a prosthetic one, but insurance wouldn’t cover the cost, calling it “cosmetic.” When we heard his story, we knew we had to help. Because of this campaign, he got his prosthetic eye and a piece of his childhood back with it.
Another was a wife and mother of two who fought a yearlong health battle and was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Just days before Christmas, she underwent surgery but passed away due to complications. Before her surgery, she received one of our cards and, in tears, told us this gift gave her some peace, knowing her family would have help in the difficult times ahead. It wasn’t just about the financial support but knowing that someone cared.
These stories remind us why this campaign is so meaningful. It’s not just
about writing checks; it’s about telling people they aren’t forgotten and that someone is there to lend a hand. It’s about giving families a moment of relief when the world feels unbearable.
“We believe in giving back and serving the communities where we live in a real and tangible way,” says Steven Schowengerdt, CEO and founder of City Lifestyle. “This Giving Campaign is about personally impacting the lives of people we know with an unexpected check in the mail just to say that someone thought of them this holiday season.”
Together with Matthew Perry, President, Steven adds that the gratitude from recipients was overwhelming, affirming this tradition’s importance. “We believe God has blessed our company with success,” Matthew adds, “so we want to be a blessing to others.”
We know many more people could use a little help this Christmas, and that’s where you come in. Do you know someone who could use a blessing? We want to hear about them.
To nominate someone, scan the QR code or follow @CityLifestyle on Instagram, where you’ll find the form in our bio. Nominations are open from November 27 to December 10, 2024. Let’s bring hope to those who need it most.
The City Lifestyle Giving Campaign is completely confidential. No identities will be revealed or publicized. All entries will be read, and selections and the amount given to each recipient will be based on the severity of the need. For more information, visit KingdomBuildingFoundation.com
DECEMBER 2024
A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS
EVERY MONDAY
Queen’s Marketplace
Hula Show
Coronation Pavilion
The Beamer-Solomon Halau O Po’ohala Hula Show will be held every Monday at 6 PM! Enjoy the beautiful, free performance featuring kahiko (traditional) and modern hula. Hula narrates Hawaii’s story through the graceful movements of skilled dancers. Experience this intricate ancient art of dance and chant up close and personal in a comfortable outdoor setting. QueensMarketplace.com.
EVERY SATURDAY
Keahou Farmer’s Market
Keauhou Shopping Center | 8:00 AM
You will find locally raised produce, honey, flowers, Kona coffee, macadamia nuts, meat and eggs, handmade bread, jams, and so much more at our market. All are 100% grown and produced in Hawai’i. Enjoy meeting the farmers and makers dedicated to bringing fresh food from their farms while walking through our beautiful outdoor market from 8 AM until noon. KeauhouFarmersMarket.com.
DECEMBER 7TH
64th Annual Waimea
Twilight Christmas Parade
Waimea Town, Kamuela | 7:00 PM
Waimea’s famous Christmas Parade is the second oldest in Hawaii and takes place on the first Saturday of December each year. The parade begins in Waimea Park onto Kawaiahe road, and concludes at the Kalani Schutte District Park. The parade benefits the Big Island Giving Tree, a local non-profit organization. WaimeaTown.org.
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RIDE BIG ISLAND.
BICYCLE RENTAL, SALES, AND EXPERT SERVICE
DECEMBER 7TH
Holualoa Music & Light Festival
Holualoa Village | 5:30 PM
Every December, Holualoa Village rolls out the holiday red carpet, inviting visitors and residents to ring in the holidays, Hawaiian style. Holualoa lights up the night with the annual lighting of the town Christmas tree, plus an appearance by Santa, lots of live music, gallery gatherings, art openings, food, drink and more! HolualoaVillage.com.
DECEMBER 14TH
Kailua-Kona Magical Storybook Christmas
Ali’i Drive | 5:00 PM
The parade begins at the Kona Pool and Gym. The route will take participants down Kuakini to Palani and then along Ali’i Drive to Walua Road, just beyond Coconut Grove Marketplace. It promises to be a spectacular event featuring many children, stunning decorations, and plenty of adorned dogs. ParadesInKona.com.
DECEMBER 21ST
The Nutcracker Ballet
Kahilu Theatre, Waimea | 2:00 PM
West Hawaii Dance Theatre’s Nutcracker Ballet with Tchaikovsky’s enchanting melodies, Hoffmann’s timeless themes, exciting guest professional dancers, ever-evolving creative choreography and participation by our local community continues to weave its spell. Captivating audiences year after year, this production reaffirms its place as an adored tradition, sparkling with festive spirit. Buy tickets at WHDT.org.
Green Flash Sunset Pendant with Opal Inlay, Diamonds and Tsavorites in 14K Yellow or White Gold
