It was hard enough when both Kisi and Melissa Mafi-Toumolupe were working full-time and raising their family.

But a while back, Kisi Mafi-Toumolupe lost his job and hasn't been able to find another. Now they're trying to make it on Melissa's salary from her job at the Hale Koa Hotel in Waikiki.

Her husband is at home picking up the slack now for the Kalihi family of five.

He's taking the kids, ages 3, 7 and 11, to school or picking them up afterward, Melissa said.

Her husband wants to work, but his English language skills are less than proficient. So every time he's asked to fill out an application, he has trouble, said Melissa Mafi-Toumolupe, 32.

"He's a good worker," she said. "It would be great if he could get another tree-trimming job. He has some English skills."

So as Christmas is just a week away, she said, presents are out of the question for her three daughters, who seem to always want everything they see.

"We're barely making it now," she said. "I keep telling my daughters that they have to wait for Christmas, maybe Santa will bring it."

But really, what she would like for Christmas are some gift cards toÁ buy some new clothes for her daughters and a holiday meal. The girls are different sizes and keep growing, she said.