There are few options because each of the figures is 21 feet tall, 15 feet wide and weighs 4,000 pounds, said Craig Maeda, administrator for park, maintenance and recreation services.

The new storage site has to be large enough to house dozens of other cement-coated Styrofoam sculptures used during the annual Honolulu City Lights celebration.

Lester Chang, Mayor Mufi Hannemann's appointed Parks & Recreation director, is asking the City Council for $635,000 to store the displays at a Macy's warehouse. "They've always been at Manana so we've never had this problem before," Chang said.

City Council budget chairwoman Ann Kobayashi asked Chang yesterday to consider keeping Shaka Santa and Mrs. Claus on display year-round above Honolulu Hale's fountain and changing their appearance with the season.

During a recess from committee hearings, Kobayashi suggested the possibility of renaming the couple to something like "Mr. and Mrs. Honolulu" and dressing them accordingly and letting them promote community events. Kobayashi said the city could also offer cash prizes for student contests to come up with seasonal attire for the couple.

But the council is open to ideas. Otherwise there's only one other option.

"Santa needs to go on a diet," Maeda said.