This past holiday season, A&B was proud to spread festive cheer at our centers across the islands. We enjoy bringing families, neighbors, and the community together to make unforgettable memories. Here are some of the fun festivities we participated in, coordinated or sponsored in December 2019.

 

Castle Tree Lighting Ceremony

The lighting of Castle Medical Center’s iconic pine tree signals the start of the Christmas season in Kailua Town.

On December 4, A&B helped Kailua Town ring in the holiday season with this Christmas tradition at Castle Medical Center. The 35th annual event features festive decoration displays, live entertainment and a chance to visit Santa and Mrs. Claus. And of course, we can’t forget the lighting of Castle Medical Center’s 60-foot-tall Norfolk pine! A&B sponsors complimentary trolley service for the public from Kailua Town Center, bringing the community together for this special holiday event.

 

Xmas Tree Battle Royale

TSAK tenants decorated trees and collected canned goods for charity.

From December 4 –13, The Shops at Kukui‘ula (TSAK) held a Christmas tree throwdown! Seventeen TSAK tenants decked out trees in ultimate holiday flair, and people were invited to vote on their favorites. All proceeds benefitted the Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank, and over 1,000 pounds of food was donated at the end of the event!

 

Photos with Santa

Santa parked his sleigh at Queens’ MarketPlace from December 6 – 21 this year, and keiki from all over the Big Island went to visit him to whisper what they’d like for Christmas.

Queens’ MarketPlace brought Christmas magic alive for keiki on the Big Island!

 

Kaneohe Christmas Parade

Over thirty volunteers, A&B employees, family members and friends, represented Kaneohe Bay Shopping Center in the annual Kaneohe Christmas Parade on December 7! The parade began at Windward Mall and ended at Castle High School. A&B won second place for our creative “Aladdin” themed trolley, complete with Aladdin, Jasmine and Genie. Volunteers handed out reusable Kaneohe Bay Shopping Center bags to the paradegoers.

The parade’s theme this year was “Magical World of Music,” and employee Chris Akiona’s husband decorated the trolley with an Aladdin theme – complete with mechanized, moving musical notes!

 

Holly Jolly Christmas

At Napili Plaza on December 7, we helped spread holiday magic with our Holly Jolly Christmas event! Members of the community were invited to snap photos with Santa Claus while enjoying a sumptuous hot cocoa bar, activities and more.

Keiki enjoy some festive holiday crafts at the Holly Jolly Christmas event.

 

Ho‘olaulea

Waianae Mall and Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health’s Ho‘olaulea on December 1 was a lively holiday affair. Each year, residents line up along Farrington Highway to kick-off the holiday season with the Waianae Coast Christmas Parade that starts at the Boat Harbor and ends at the Ho‘olaulea at Waianae Mall. Families gathered to take pictures with Santa and get their holiday shopping done early, enjoy ono food and groove to live music. A&B also donated space to the Waianae Economic Development Council to host their annual “Winter Wonderland” on December 14, which transforms a unit in Waianae Mall into a magical, Christmas maze! Every single child who visits this wonderland gets a special present from Santa Claus himself.

 

Holiday Sip + Shop

A brand-new event this year, the Holiday Sip + Shop was an effervescent success! Vendors around Kailua Town offered special promotions in tandem with free festive sips, like ciders, twisted eggnog and mulled wine. More than 20 vendors participated, and there was even live entertainment and giveaways.

Eventgoers show off their Sip + Shop passports that gave them the chance to win a Kailua Town gift package valued at $500!

 

3rd Annual Keiki Bash

The Shops at Kukuiʻula hosted their annual family holiday celebration on December 13 with live entertainment, culinary delights and a meet-and-greet with Santa Phil. This popular event draws hundreds of attendees from the Kauai community! The Shops also invited students from Kapaʻa Middle School to spread holiday cheer on December 28 with festive holiday caroling.

Guests enjoyed live entertainment from local artists and performers.

 

14th Annual Snow Day

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow… 40 tons of it at Pearl Highlands Center, to be exact!

Snow in Hawaii? How about 40 tons of it at Pearl Highlands Center! This free event is a holiday favorite for both keiki and keiki-at-heart and is one of the largest snow events on the island. Families flocked to the PHC parking lot on December 14 to make snowmen, snowballs and snow angels in a mountain of real snow.

Families also enjoyed fun activities, performances and giveaways at this winter wonderland event. | Photo Credit: Star Advertiser.

 

 

Manoa Christmas Parade

This enthusiastic crew of Santa’s little helpers helped ring in the season in Manoa Valley.

The annual Manoa Christmas Parade was held on December 14. A&B helps to sponsor the event, and over twenty members of the A&B ʻohana donned their holiday pizazz and A&B t-shirts to represent Manoa Marketplace in the parade. They were joined by several students from Roosevelt High School’s eSports team, and all participants handed out reusable shopping bags to paradegoers along the one-mile route.

The rainy weather cleared up just in time for the Manoa Christmas Parade.

 

Kanoelani Elementary Caroling

Pint-sized carolers helped make the season merry and bright with their holiday tunes.

What better way to ring in the holidays than with Christmas carols? On December 14, Kanoelani Elementary brightened up Waipio Shopping Center with a special holiday performance. Waipio Shopping Center also hosted a Holiday Gift Bag Promotion, where Kanoelani Elementary students decorated gift bags that were sold by various tenants around the center. All proceeds went to the school, and the center matched every dollar (up to $1,000)! The Holiday Gift Bag Promotion was also held at The Shops at Kukui‘ula in partnership with Koloa Elementary, Gateway at Mililani Mauka in partnership with Mililani ‘Ike Elementary, and Kunia Shopping Center in partnership with Kalei‘opu‘u Elementary School.

Employees at Big City Diner in Waipio Shopping Center show off some of the holiday bags decorated by Kanoelani Elementary School keiki.

Pua Na Pua Festival

Lanihau Center on the Big Island hosted their Pua Na Pua Festival on December 14. This 4th annual event inclusively celebrates the contributions of both developmentally disabled and non-developmentally disabled artists. The collaboration between Full Life Hawaii, Abled Hawaii Artists and Donkey Mill Art Center empowers Hawaii Island artists of all abilities. The fair features artisanal items, homemade crafts, live music and demos.

The festive event featured performances, artwork and talents from people of all abilities.

 

A Very Merry Culinary Market

What better way to celebrate the holidays than with delicious food? The Shops at Kukuiʻula hosted a Very Merry Culinary Market on December 18, which featured a visit from Santa, holiday bag printing station and–of course–yummy bites!

TSAK presented the Garden Island Arts Council with a $4,000 check at the event.

The donation was a combination of monies raised through the sales of 10th Anniversary tote bags sales and an $1,000 donation from The Shops.

 

Holiday Concert + Pop-up Market

On the Big Island, Queens’ MarketPlace hosted a special dance performance and jazz concert on December 22. The event included other festive activities like photos with Santa and face painting, and a pop-up market at Yoga Barre. On the 28th they hosted Movie Under the Stars, featuring the feel-good film “A Dog’s Way Home.”

QMP hosted two popular events that drew crowds of families and community members together.