honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, December 4, 2009

Get into the holiday spirit


TGIF Staff

From "Nutcracker" performances to pancake breakfasts with Santa, we've highlighted some holiday events for your family to check out. For a list of community parade dates and times, check the calendar in the back of TGIF.

GINGERBREAD FUN

Kapolei Commons Gingerbread Festival, a benefit for Aloha United Way featuring gingerbread house decorating with specialty candies. There will be entertainment and prize giveaways, and pets are invited to take pictures with Santa. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Kapolei Commons, 4450 Kapolei Parkway; $25 for each gingerbread house kit; 782-5180, www.thekapoleicommons.com.

Gingerbread Family Festival, share a table, make, or buy a gingerbread house package to make at home, the latter available for pickup from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Easter Seals, 710 Green St. 9:30-11:30 a.m. or 12:30-2:30 p.m. Dec. 13; Blaisdell Exhibition Hall; $39 ($20 is tax deductible); 958-4000, www.eastersealshawaii.org.

Santa's German Gingerbread Village, created by chef Ralf Bauer, now on view at the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani hotel lobby. Bauer hosts a free make-your-own-house session at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 8, 10, 15, 17 and 22.

'NUTCRACKER' PERFORMANCES

HAWAII STATEBALLET; 7 p.m. Fridays, 2:30 and 7 p.m. Saturdays, 1 and 4 p.m. Sundays, Dec. 11-20; Mamiya Theatre, Saint Louis School; $18-$30; 550-8457, www.hawaiistateballet.com/tickets.

Hawaii Ballet Theatre; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12 and 19, 4 p.m. Dec. 13 and 20; Leeward Community College Theatre; $25 for adults, $22 for children, seniors and military; 456-8100.

Ballet Hawaii; 8 p.m. Dec. 18, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19 and 2 p.m. Dec. 20; Blaisdell Concert Hall; $35, $55, $75; 877-750-4400, www.ticketmaster.com.

MUSICALS

"White Christmas"; 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 4 p.m. Sundays, 3 p.m. Saturdays Dec. 12 and 19, through Dec. 20; Diamond Head Theatre; $12-$42; 733-0274, www.diamondheadtheatre.com.

"Winter Wonderettes"; 8 p.m. today, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday; Manoa Valley Theatre; $35 general, $30 seniors and military, $20 those 25 and younger; 988-6131, www.manoavalleytheatre.com.

MISCELLANEOUS

A Jolly Holiday Christmas Party, featuring the "magical twists" of Balloon Monsoon, door prizes and a chance to create a holiday craft. Goody bags will be presented to the first 50 children; 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Saturday; Hawaii Kai Public Library; for children ages 3 and older, accompanied by a parent or caregiver; free; 397-5833.

CHRISTMAS IN CHINATOWN PARTY, with a lion dance, entertainment, visit from Santa and keiki presents and snow; 3-6 p.m.; Kekaulike Mall and Marketplace; free; 778-3888.

5th annual Street Bikers United Hawaii Toy Run; 11 a.m. Sunday, more than 4,000 motorcyclists will make donations to Toys for Tots. The parade goes from Magic Island down Ala Moana Boulevard, Kaläkaua and Monsarrat avenues, and Diamond Head Road, ending at Kapiolani Community College.

PANCAKEBREAKFAST, with Stormtroopers joining Winnie the Pooh, Elmo and more than 20 other costumed characters at Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii's 23rd Breakfast with Santa. It runs 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Dec. 12 at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii, Mänoa Ballroom. $20 includes meal and photo with Santa; 951-0200, www.preventchildabusehawaii.org.

TOYS FORTOTS at Honolulu Hale Courtyard will feature imperial Stormtroopers from the Pacific Outpost-501st Legion collecting new and unused toys for the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots program; 6-9 p.m. Dec. 15; Honolulu Hale courtyard; free; 768-6622.

Festival of Lights Pearl Harbor Boat Tours, departing every 15 minutes from 6 to 8:15 p.m. at the USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center on Dec. 18, 19 and 20. Free, but canned good donations to the Hawaii Foodbank are appreciated. The 30-minute harbor-side tours features harbor-side views of decorated ships and submarines. 422-2771, ext. 110.

CRAFTS & WORKSHOPS

SANTA'S SECRET WORKSHOP, at Hawaii Children's Discovery Center will have arts and crafts stations, gingerbread cookie decorating, carousel rides and more. Workshop A for ages 5 and younger: Dec. 12 and Dec. 13, 9 and 11 a.m.; $15 members, $25 nonmembers. Additional participants $8; Workshop B, ages 5 to 10: 5:30-8 p.m.Dec. 12, $25, $35. 524-5437.

Learn How to Make Christmas Crafts, is a free hands-on demonstration program on making simple and economical gifts and decoration; 6 p.m. Dec. 15; Ewa Beach Public & School Library; free; 689-1204.

Honolulu Made in Hawaii Gift Fair, there are several to choose from, but this one has more than 300 booths with antiques, collectibles, clothing, art, crafts, and more; 5-9 p.m. Dec. 18, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Dec. 19 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 20; Blaisdell Center; free (gifts/donations for Lokahi Booth or canned food for Hawaii Foodbank requested); 942-3110, www.honolulugiftfair.com.

CONCERTS

"FRANKincense & Mirth," Comedian Frank DeLima's Christmas concert; 7:30 p.m. (6 p.m. dinner show) today; C'est Si Bon, Pagoda hotel; $50 adults, $25 keiki 3-10; 948-8370.

"Maluhia," Kealii Reichel's Christmas concert with Hälau Kealaokamaile and 2009 Miss Aloha Hula Henohea Kane, plus Hookena; 7:30 p.m. Saturday; Blaisdell Concert Hall; $30-$68; 877-750-4400, www.ticketmaster.com.

Honolulu Youth Symphony Winter Concert Series; 4 p.m. Sunday; Blaisdell Concert Hall; $18 general, $8 for students and seniors 55 and older; 877-750-4400, www.ticketmaster.com.

What Sweeter Music, Hawaii Pacific University's 8th annual Winter Concert, with the Hawaii Pacific University International Chorale, Vocal Ensemble and Chamber Orchestra; 7 p.m. Dec. 11; Central Union Church, 1660 Beretania St.; free; 544-1127.

A Cazimero Christmas, featuring The Brothers Cazimero with special guests; 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11-12, 2 p.m. Dec. 13; Hawaii Theatre; $30, $40, $50, $75; 528-0506, www.hawaiitheatre.com.

2nd Annual Holiday Concert, presented by the 70-member Windward Choral Society; 7-8:30 p.m. Dec. 12; Windward United Church of Christ, 38 Käneohe Bay Drive; free; 254-5717.

Christmas Concert, with the Honolulu Symphony Chorus and Honolulu Chamber Choir; 5:30 p.m. Dec. 13; St. Andrew's Cathedral; $20 adults, $10 military, students and seniors, free for ages 16 and younger; 524-0815.

NÄ Leo's 25th Anniversary Holiday Music Spectacular; 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20, 22-23; Hale Koa Luau Gardens, Waikíkí; $39.99, $59.99, $79.99 and $99.99; 262-6300, www.worldsound.com.

Mele Kalikimaka with Hapa; 7:15 p.m. Dec. 23; The Veranda, Kahala Hotel & Resort; $50 includes Christmas dessert buffet; 739-8760