Bring Hawaii Home for the Holidays – and Beyond

As strange a year as 2020 has been, the holidays are upon us. Yes, the tourism industry in Hawaiʻi is gearing back up for the high season again. Most of our hotels have reopened, and despite the inconvenience of pre-travel testing and enhanced safety procedures, early reports are that occupancy for the holiday season and beyond will be strong. And yet, Iʻm hearing from many of my clients that they may not be returning to their homes in Hawaiʻi this winter — and that got me thinking on how they could bring a bit of Hawaiʻi to wherever they might be.

Christmas decorations have already appeared at Queens Marketplace at Waikoloa Beach Resort — the scene looking down from our Hawaii Life Kohala Coast office.

Kahilu TV: Bringing Hawaiian Music and Cultural Performances to You

Last weekend was the 18th annual Ukulele and Slack Key Guitar Festival — nominally held at the Kahilu Theatre in Waimea, and in reality, the first broadcast through their new streaming platform Kahilu.tv. Over 100 subscribers logged on Saturday night.

Sit back in your rocking chair and enjoy the artist jamming on Noho Pai Pai. Most of the artists will be featured in individual concerts this 2020-21 Kahilu Theatre Season.

I suspect most of the seasonʻs live performances will be virtual not in front of a live audience, so even though Iʻm a season sponsor and regular patron, I got an annual subscription for $99.99. If you just want to check it out, you can try a month for $14.99. Some of the concerts may also be available on a pay-per-view basis, so make sure you are on the Kahilu Theatre email list!

Besides providing access to all the performances, the site is content-rich. I particularly enjoyed the studio visits with the artists included in their recent gallery exhibit, and look forward to some virtual opening nights! With regular Kahilu Theatre tickets at $68 for the front section, I think this is a screaming deal. Holiday shows include the Kona Harp Ensemble, and what is described as a wildly imaginative take on “A Christmas Carol” performed by the critically acclaimed Manual Cinema featuring hundreds of paper puppets, miniatures, silhouettes, and a live original score.

Pop Up Makeke: On Line Marketplace for Hawaiian Arts and Crafts

When shops were closed and residents under stay-at-home orders, over 400 small businesses and artisans created an online marketplace or “makeke.” Supported by the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, the vendors on PopUpMakeke.com are carefully curated so you know you are ordering authentic, quality products.

Screenshot from the Pop-Up Makeke website showing a variety of items that would make great holiday gifts

Items for sale include face masks in Hawaiian designs, jewelry and clothing from some of the designers you see me wearing regularly, decor items for the home, and even food items.

My thought: I can do all my holiday shopping at this “makeke” from the comfort of my home, while listening to a soundtrack on Kahilu.tv. Better than running around on Black Friday! Let me know if you decide to join me.

Happy holidays!