Posted on: Friday, December 8, 2006
Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
Worried that you'd arrive in Waikiki to find that Christmas is lost in translation? It's the holidays all right — Hawaiian style.
Even though it's 80 degrees, the hotels pull out all the seasonal stops: There are oodles of tinsel, decorated trees and festive wreaths at practically every turn along the Kalakaua Avenue strip.
One of the prettiest sites is the Sheraton Moana Surfrider's exterior, with the historic hotel's classic columns festooned in greenery. It says Mele Kalikimaka with elegance and elan.
Inside the Moana, a lavish edible village, fashioned from 28 sheets of gingerbread, 20 pounds of white chocolate and 75 gallons of icing, is a feast for the eyes. Across the street, at the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani hotel, a similar gingerbread-house display can be found in the lobby.
The Royal Hawaiian hotel, also known as "The Pink Palace," lives up to its name, with an array of pink-trimmed Christmas trees. Don't forget your cameras, so you can be in the pink for posterity.
Also:
Santa makes his landing — via outrigger canoe — at Outrigger Waikiki, at 9:30 a.m. today. St. Nick's arrival is followed by a hula show and holiday tunes, and surely, Santa will be happy to pose for a picture.
Hotel guests and the public can join the Breakfast With Santa sessions every morning from Dec. 17 to 23 at the Shore Bird Restaurant at the Outrigger Reef on the Beach hotel. Cost: $11.95 for adults, $7.95 for children 4 to 9, free for tots 3 and younger. 922-2887.
Outrigger employees will bake up a storm as they take part in a gingerbread contest, at 2 p.m. Dec. 18, at the Outrigger Waikiki. The creations will be open for viewing through Dec. 22.
Outrigger Reef employees launch their annual Christmas wreath contest, 9 to 11 a.m. Dec. 19. Again, hotel guests may watch and even vote for their favorite entries, which will be on view.
For keiki staying at the Outrigger Reef, there's a Sailing With Santa trek in an outrigger canoe, at 10 am. Dec. 20. The 30-minute sail off Waikiki is free to house guests, but reservations must be made by 4 p.m. Dec. 19.
The Kahala Hotel and Resort (formerly the Kahala Mandarin Oriental) boasts a decorated tree and a gingerbread house. Carols will be shared in the hotel lobby at 5 p.m. Dec. 22 to 24. For something different, consider the Kahala's afternoon tea with Santa, with seatings at 2 and 4 p.m. Saturday and repeating Dec. 16 and 23. Cost is $25, includes tea and sweets; reservations are required.
"This Place Rocks" is the theme of the Hilton Hawaiian Village's wonderland of attractions this season. Santa makes a watery arrival in an outrigger canoe at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Hilton beachfront. And now through Dec. 21, holiday serenades by Island choruses representing a spectrum of diversity from the community (grade schoolers to theater performers) will perform at 7 p.m daily except Fridays in the hotel lobby.
Want to see a former Miss Universe dance the hula? Hawai'i's own Brooke Lee, Miss Universe 1997, subs for soloist Kanoe Miller Dec. 22 to 30 at the House Without a Key at the Halekulani hotel.
Plan a sunset visit, take in the vistas of Diamond Head, and you'll never forget Kalikimaka in Hawai'i.
Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com.
