With Christmas exactly three weeks away, today would be a perfect day to pick out a Christmas tree, since most can last up to three weeks with proper care.
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| Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser
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The most common types sold at tree lots statewide are Douglas and noble firs, said Susan Haida, assistant manager at Home Depot Iwilei.
"We've been selling a lot more noble, but Douglas is a lot less expensive," Haida said. At Home Depot, 6- to 7-foot Douglas and noble firs cost $37.88 and $49.88, respectively. Prices at other tree lots range between $20 and $200.
Read on to find out which one's best for you and for other tips on how to make your tannenbaum last through the holidays.
Picking out a Christmas tree
•Look for freshness, recommends the Honolulu Fire Department. A fresh tree should not lose green needles when tapped on the ground. Fresh needles should be green and hard to pull back from the branches, and should not break. The trunk should feel sticky.
| Tree safety
• Keep the tree away from all flames and heat sources.
• Before decorating the tree, read and follow the manufacturer's instructions concerning installation and maintenance of the electrical decorations. • Before plugging in new or used electrical decorations, carefully inspect each for cracked sockets, frayed, loose or bare wires, and loose connections that may cause shock or start a fire. Do not overload extension cords. Source: The Honolulu Fire Department |
•Think about where you'll be putting your tree and consider things like height and width, Haida said.
•Make sure have the appropriate size stand that will support the tree and hold enough water, Haida said.
Tree care
• When you bring your tree home, cut about an inch off the trunk and place it in a bucket of water to allow the tree to absorb water, Haida said.
• Leave a fresh tree outside until ready to decorate.
• Check the water level daily. A 6-foot tree will use a half-gallon of water every day, according to the fire department. Mix a commercial preservative into the water.
Reach Zenaida Serrano at zserrano@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8174.
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Noble Fir Vs. Douglas fir
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| Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser
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Noble fir: These needles turn upward, exposing the lower branches. Known for its beauty, the noble fir has a long keep ability and its stiff branches make it a good tree for heavy ornaments, as well as provide excellent greenery for wreaths and garland.
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| Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser
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Douglas fir: This tree has soft needles that are dark green or blue green and are about 1 to 1y´ inches long. The needles radiate in all directions from the branch. When crushed, these needles have a sweet fragrance.
Source: Christmas tree expert Clarke Gernon, via MSNBC Interactive
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Bid for curly-koa ornament, other creations
Hau'ula artist Aaron Hammer can do wonders with wood, transforming pieces into hand drums or bowls worth up to $2,000. And for the first time, Hammer tried his hand at fashioning curly koa into a Christmas tree ornament he called "Golden Koa." Hammer is among eight Island artists who have donated ornaments for The Advertiser's "Creations for a Cause" online bidding fund-raiser.
Hammer's koa sphere is embellished with a Norfolk Island pine cap and tail gilded in 24-karat gold leaf, thanks to help from jeweler Casey Holaday, and has reached $80 in bidding. The six ornament packages and tree lamp so far have raised more than $xxx for the Advertiser Christmas Fund. Follow the bidding, which continues through 1 p.m. Tuesday, and find out more about all the ornaments and artists here.
Winning bids are charitable donations for the Christmas Fund.
Santa at Humane Society for grrrreat photos with pooch
If cloudy weather kept you away from the Hawaiian Humane Society's Santa Paws photo sessions a few weeks back, there's another chance this weekend to get that family-pet holiday card all squared away.
Bring your furry pal to the humane society at 2700 Wai'alae Ave. from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow for sessions with Santa photographed by Stan Wright. For $20, you'll get one pose, four prints and four Fujifilm negatives mailed to your home address in time to make those holiday cards.
No appointment is necessary; just show up. Information: 946-2187, ext. 225. Note to McInerny Dog Park regulars: The park will be closed tomorrow to accommodate the Santa Paws event.
Help give troops a bit of holiday cheer today
Take time out from the hectic holiday weekend to think about the men and women serving in the armed forces. The Friends of Wai'alae School would like you to do even more: Donate items or money at today's "Operation Christmas Cheer 2004," from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the school, 1045 19th Ave.
Among the items requested:
• Chicken or tuna in pouches.
• Anything chocolate (cookies and candies must be double-bagged).
• Protein bars.
• Crack-seed items.
• Gum.
• Microwave popcorn.
• Pain relievers (Aleve, Motrin, aspirin in small bottles).
Log onto www.fws.org for the complete list.
Here's your chance to be a manga maniac
Interested in manga, the Japanese-style comic books? Interested in actually drawing manga? Well, there's a workshop just for you.
Mangabento, a group of manga enthusiasts (above is a drawing by member Mayumi), invites all to a free session from 1 to 4 p.m. today at Mid-Pacific Institute's Weinberg Tech Plaza. An anime artist from Japan will conduct art demonstrations. Tools will be supplied.
Mangabento is also sponsoring an art contest; the deadline is Wednesday. Check out the contest rules at mangabento.com.
Sports boffins exercise thumbs in game face-off
Honolulu sportscasters and sportswriters will face off today in a video-game challenge/charity benefit that also kicks off Blockbuster's new Game Rush store-within-a-store.
The public is invited to the Kahala Blockbuster, 4202 Wai'alae Ave., at noon to watch competitors including TV's Robert Kekaula, John Veneri and Russell Yamanoha and The Advertiser's Stephen Tsai battle it out via the new Madden NFL 2005 video game. The winner's favorite charity will receive $100.
At 1 p.m., a Tournament of Champions begins, with pre-qualified contestants competing for prizes. At 2 p.m., it's Santa (Bob Frost) vs. Scrooge (Frank DeLima); the winner gets a sack of toys for kids' charities.
The video-game event is from 11:45 a.m. to 3 p.m; it's free. Those attending can win prizes, too.
All-day festival on Big Island
They're getting into the spirit of the holidays in Waimea on the Big Island, with an all-day community festival today. Among the attractions:
• Waimea Country School's 6th annual 'Ohana Fest, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• The 44th annual Waimea Christmas Twilight Parade, from 6 p.m.
• Craft fairs at Parker Ranch Center and the Waimea Center.
Arboretum holds plant, craft sale at Manoa school
The Lyon Arboretum is shuttered, but that doesn't stop the Lyon Arboretum Association from holding its annual holiday plant and craft sale, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at Manoa Elementary School, 3155 Manoa Road.
Two new 'ohi'a hybrids will be offered: the "Queen Liliu'okalani" (red and golden yellow); and "Sleeping Beauty," pictured (maroon and orange).
Admission to the sale is free. 988-0464.
Holiday extravaganza to illuminate City Hall area, downtown with light parade, concert
Join thousands of your neighbors for tonight's kickoff of "Honolulu City Lights," the annual festival of holiday cheer around City Hall and lighting up the streets of downtown Honolulu.
There'll be food booths from 3 p.m., entertainment at the Sky Gate sculpture at 5 p.m. and the tree-lighting ceremony begins at 6 p.m. Henry Kapono will sing "Honolulu City Lights," the hit tune by Keola and Kapono Beamer.
The always-popular Public Workers Electric Light Parade starts at 6 p.m. at King and River streets, near 'A'ala Park, and travels along King Street; the first units should arrive by 6:30 p.m. near City Hall. The parade vehicles will remain near City Hall until 8:15 p.m. so that families can get close-up looks at the decorations.
There's more: Santa will visit with kids near the red-brick building facing King Street (free photos from Fujifilm Hawaii); Christmas trees and wreaths will be on display in the City Hall courtyard and Lane Gallery from 6:30 p.m.; and there's a concert from 7:30 p.m. at Sky Gate featuring Jordan Segundo, Maila Gibson and national recording act All-4-One.
Admission is free.
