This past Saturday on Dec. 11, we officially kicked off the holiday season with “Kaʻākaukukui – A Celebration of Light”—a heartwarming community event at The Barn at Salt at Our Kaka‘ako.
Holiday music filled The Barn and flowed over the lighted letters “PEACE,” “JOY,” and “ALOHA” that illuminated the vibrant murals on the walls. The Starbucks hot chocolate bar opened to the delight of keiki, with each cup topped off with fluffy white mini marshmallows, peppermint flavoring, and decadent whipped cream.
Families, friends, and dogs posed for pictures with the holiday light display, while on a neighboring wall, we set up a postcard station to share peace, joy, and aloha. Our community handwrote messages of goodwill and holiday cheer on postcards designed by POW! WOW! Hawai‘i artist Gavin Murai and dropped them into the station’s mailbox, which we hope will be full come Christmas! The postcards will be delivered to healthcare workers at The Queen’s Medical Center and Hawaiʻi Pacific Health, kūpuna at Lunalilo Home, and overseas military personnel.
We also had a special Christmas gift to share with the help of Brandon Wong, a Kamehameha Schools alumni. He shared his passion for mo‘olelo (stories) with his ‘ohana. His daughters Hikianali‘a, Leinā‘ala, and La‘ikūakamahina, who are fluent in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, translated Little Tree by e.e. cummings, The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition by Bell Chanda and Carol V. Aebersold, and “A Visit from St. Nicholas” by Clement Clarke Moore for our opening night. Hikianali‘a and Leinā‘ala took turns telling the stories in ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i and giving the English translations. What a beautiful opportunity to hear these classic Christmas tales in Hawaiian!
Our sincerest mahalo to the Kaiāulu ‘o Kaka‘ako Owners Association for making this event possible, the Wong ‘Ohana for the Christmas mo‘olelo, Starbucks for generously donating the hot chocolate bar, and everyone who was able to join us!
Be sure to swing by and check out the lighted letters and postcard station, which will be set up through Monday, December 20 every evening at sunset until 9:00 p.m. We hope you all bring your family and friends to see the lights and #belight for others, not only during the holiday season but throughout the year! Mele Kalikimaka from Our Kaka‘ako!