Check back often as we add more events and holiday fun! Also check out our roundup of Holiday Craft Fairs happening on Maui, here!
31st Annual Kula Harvest Festival
kulapta.org
November 17th, Saturday
Kula School Grounds 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Amidst the cool mountain air and spectacular views, and at approximately 2500 feet in elevation, sits our beautiful 14-acre campus. Host to our much anticipated, 31st Annual Harvest Festival! Funds raised from the Harvest Festival support enrichment programs, art classes, music, classroom supplies, physical education, student activities and so much more. The festival highlights Ono local food, a Crafters/Vendor Marketplace, games for the keiki, Country Store featuring local farmers and produce, Pony rides, Silent Auction, Community Living tent, and live entertainment. Come help us celebrate and spend the day in the country and enjoy a fun, family event! For more information: visit Kulapta.org or call (808) 876-7610
St Joseph Christmas Craft Fair 572-6235
Saturday, November 17th
7:00 AM – 2:00 PM
St. Joseph Early Learning Center invites you to their annual Craft Fair; a holiday showcase to shop for unique and creative items from many local crafters for all occasions. Come and enjoy the holiday spirit that will include a special guest “Santa” who will be landing his sled at 11 a.m. for the children and children at heart. The event will also feature an array of ono foods, live entertainment, baked good items, and so much more will be available. Start the holiday season early this year. Join in the celebration on Saturday, November 17th from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. at 1294 Makawao Ave. (school grounds). See you there!
Holiday Wreath Workshop at Karen’s Christmas Crossing
November 17 and 18, 2018 in Kokomo
Adults and children alike can reserve a spot to make their own pine and evergreen holiday wreath accented with local flora and merry treasures. No experience is needed as Karen and her family helpfully demonstrate making your own fresh wreath. Take your time in creating a truly personalized holiday treasure that will last the holiday season. Shop festive décor and handmade crafts and enjoy snacks and holiday treats. Workshop cost $25 per person. Call Karen at (808) 281-1488 to save your spots today.
All Aboard The Holiday Express!
Lahaina’s historic Sugar Cane Train is proud to announce the 3rd Annual Holiday Express from November 23rd to December 31st with two trips nightly at 6:30 and 8:00!
This festive event brings the magic of the holidays to keiki of all ages and has quickly become a family holiday tradition. The Holiday Express elves are working hard decking out the vintage train cars and steam engines in holiday cheer and lights and Santa is ready to travel from the North Pole to greet the children of Maui! On board enjoy milk and cookies while Santa gives a special gift to the keiki. Tickets are $35, and there is also a Premium upgrade ticket for $50, which includes an additional gift and a printed picture of your Ohana with Santa. Full coach buy-outs are also available. Visit www.sugarcanetrain.com for full details and to purchase tickets!
Santa Arrival Kicks Off Holiday Season at The Shops at Wailea
Queen Ka’ahumanu Center Santa Claus is Coming to Town!
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24
QKC presents Santa Claus is coming to town! | 10am – 12pm
Santa Claus arrives in style via a classic hot rod with a special meet and greet for keiki at Center Court. Family entertainment includes holiday music, keiki holiday crafts and coloring, balloons and reindeer hats. Photos with Santa opens immediately following (at Center Stage North):
December 1 – 24 Photos with Santa
Monday through Saturday | 10am – 8pm
Sundays | 10am – 5pm
Tuesday, December 2: Santa Paws | 6:00pm – 8:00pm
November 24 – December 5: Tinkertots Daycare Field Trip Class Photos
Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday | 10am -1pm
Free class photo | $5 for each additional photo
‘Ohana Holiday Movie Night
December 9 & 16th | 5:30 – 8:00pm
December 9 – Polar Express Movie with Pajama Contest
December 16 – Elf Movie with Ugly Sweater Contest
MRS CLAUS KEIKI CRAFT SATURDAYS
December1, 8, 15 & 22 | 11am – 1pm
Keiki ages 12 & under are invited to join Mrs Claus for fun holiday craft making.
December 8: Holiday Gift Card
December 15: Holiday Ornament
December 22: Holiday Cookie Decorating
Reservations not required. Space is limited.
Queen Ka’ahumanu Center has a ton of fun family-friendly events this holiday season, head to their site to check out their calendar. http://queenkaahumanucenter.com/
Handmade Holidays at Hui No‘eau, Gifts to Make & Give!
November 30th or December 7th from 5 – 7pm
‘Tis the season for creativity at Hui No’eau! Hui No’eau invites families with children 3+ to create their own holiday mugs on November 30th or December 7th from 5 – 7pm in Family Fridays: Make Your Own Holiday Mug! Families will learn handbuilding techniques while creating a ceramic holiday mug and will use colorful glazes to add personalized touches.
Interested holiday gift givers can learn more and register today for any of these exciting Handmade Holiday offerings at huinoeau.com or by calling 808-572-6560!
Elf the Musical 2018
Friday, November 30, 2018 @ 7:30 PM
Saturday, December 1, 2018 @ 2:00 PM
Saturday, December 1, 2018 @7:30 PM
Sunday, December 2, 2018 @ 6:00 PM
Friday, December 7, 2018 @ 7:30 PM
Saturday, December 8, 2018 @ 2:00 PM
Saturday, December 8, 2018 @ 7:30 PM
Sunday, December 9, 2018 @ 3:00 PM
Iao Theater, 68 N Market Street Wailuku, HI 96793
Based on the beloved holiday film, this hilarious fish-out-of-water comedy follows Buddy the Elf in his quest to find his true identity. Buddy, a young orphan, mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole. The would-be elf is raised, unaware that he is actually a human, until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and discover his true identity. Faced with the harsh realities that his father is on the naughty list and his half-brother doesn’t even believe in Santa, Buddy is determined to win over his new family and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas. http://mauionstage.com/
Tree Lighting & Tree of Hope Celebration
Friday, November 30, 2018 at 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui
4100 Wailea Alanui Dr, Wailea 96753
Don’t miss Fairmont Kea Lani’s annual Tree of Hope Celebration! Adorn the hotel’s Tree of Hope with donations of $10, $25 or $50 to benefit Maui Food Bank’s Aloha Backpack Buddies program. This local program provides over 12,000 elementary school children a pre-filled backpack each week containing six meals for the weekend. The backpacks are given to local children from low income families living at or below poverty level. As part of the celebration, one of the largest Christmas tree in the state of Hawai’i will also be lit and guests will enjoy traditional Hawaiian entertainment, hula dancers and holiday treats. The free event is open to all!
Haleakala Waldorf School Holiday Faire
Saturday, December 1st, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
This longstanding Upcountry tradition is Maui’s most festive holiday season event. Festive crafts, silent auction, food, keiki activities, live entertainment and more are in store. The event always takes place the first Saturday of December. This is HWS only community fundraiser, in which 100% of the funds raised go towards our Tuition Assistance Program.
The Faire, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, December 1st, will feature handcrafted items from more than 75 of Maui’s artists and artisans.
Altogether, Holiday Faire is a day of amazing holiday shopping, music, merriment and fun for the whole family! Admission is $5 adults, and children under 12 are FREE. Located across from the Kula Post Office on Kula Highway.
Maui Mall Free Photos with Santa!
Santa’s Workshop Pops Up at Maui Mall
Maui Mall is thrilled to announce that you and your keiki can get a free picture taken with Santa Claus right in his workshop at Maui Mall in unit B-12, across from IHOP, throughout the month of December. All your ohana has to do is make a canned food donation to the Maui Food Bank! Santa and his elves are very busy this month, so he is only available for pictures on these select dates:
- Wednesday December 5, 2018 from 5:30-7:30PM
- Wednesday December 12, 2017 from 5:30PM – 7:30PM
- Saturday December 15, 2018 from 12PM-5PM
- Wednesday December 19, 2018 from 5PM-7:30PM
- Saturday December 22, 2018 from 12PM-5PM
The Maui Food Bank will have a table set up with donation bins to receive your donation. Maui High School will be there with their photo booth for instant pictures to take home. Maui Mall and Santa Claus are excited to visit with you and your ohana!
Carden Academy Holiday Book Fair
Friday, December 7 // 10:00AM-4:00PM
Carden Academy, 55 Makaˋena Place, Pukalani
Join Carden Academy for their one day Scholastic Holiday Book Fair, open to the public. A great place to do your holiday shopping for books, gifts, and more. Choose from hundreds of titles, authors, and genres for every level and interest. Proceeds benefit Carden Academy of Maui which is located off Kula Highway, across from King Kekaulike High School.
MAPA presents a sweet holiday treat, Nutcracker Sweets
Saturday, Dec 8th at 7 pm
Sunday, Dec 9th at 3 pm
This holiday season Maui audiences are in for a sweet treat when Maui Academy of Performing Arts (MAPA) presents Nutcracker Sweets, a delightful, family-friendly adaptation of the treasured holiday classic featuring 150 MAPA dancers and alumni.
Whether you are introducing a child to the magic of this story for the first time or honoring an annual tradition of seeing the beloved ballet for the umpteenth time, Nutcracker Sweets is a must-see event this holiday season. With stunning costumes and beautiful choreography set to the timeless Tchaikovsky score, this production will dazzle audiences of all ages.
Project Gift Christmas Toy Drive and Fun Fair
Saturday, December 8th from 9:00am – 3:00pm
PROJECT GIFT will be kicking off its 4th Annual Project Gift Christmas toy drive and fun fair on Saturday, December 8th at the Hale Ho’ike’ike grounds (formerly known as Bailey House Museum) in Wailuku. This year’s free family event promises to be another fun-filled day with local craft vendors, ono food, live music, a silent auction, country store, and of course our popular Keiki Snow Zone with a 225-square-foot Snow Pit, face painting, balloon artists and make-and-take crafts. Project Gift was birthed out of a desire to get Christmas gifts into the hands of less fortunate keiki on Maui. With the support of local residents and businesses, over 1,600 children have received gifts to date. While one person can make a difference, a community of people can change an island. We invite you to come and be a part of this change. Toys and monetary donations will be received at the event.
For more information please contact Aubrey Anana at 808.870.2606; or visit www.projectgiftmaui.com; facebook.com/projectgiftmaui.
Sacred Hearts School hosts ‘Breakfast with Santa’
Saturday, December 8th from 8:30 am to 10:30 am
Breakfast with Santa, hosted by Sacred Hearts School, is not to be missed!
It is always fun to have a holiday event to take the children to and this one covers all bases. Beginning with a scrumptious breakfast, there are two options: pancakes, eggs, Portuguese sausage and fruit for $10.00 or a pancake and fruit only choice for $7.00. While enjoying caroling by the Honors Choir, take a complimentary photograph with Santa. Don’t forget to visit the craft station and book fair as well! Following the breakfast will be performances by Aunty Char’s Halau and the Body in Balance Dance Ensemble. Breakfast with Santa will be held on Saturday, December 8th from 8:30 am to 10:30 am on the Sacred Hearts School campus. Proceeds from this event help fund the middle school East Coast Learning Journey. Purchase tickets in the school office or visit our website at shs.maui.org/giving.
Pomaika’i Winterfest 2018
Saturday, December 8 from 2-6pm
Join us on Saturday, December 8th for Pōmaikaʻi Elementary School’s Winterfest from 2-6 pm. This free community event is hosted by the PTSA of Pōmaikaʻi Elementary School in an effort to connect students to community. Enjoy cookie decorating, local artisans, ʻono eats and Santa. For more information visit www.pomaikaiwinterfest.weebly. com
Festival Highlights:
– Free keiki activities
– Keiki games
– Photobooth with Santa
– Free Parking
– Student Performances
Alexander Academy’s Holiday of Dance
Holiday of Dance: an in-studio community performance
Sunday, December 16 at 11:00 am, 12:30 pm, 2:30 pm, 4:00pm
http://www.alexanderacademy.info or 808-878-8970
The upcountry dance studio will hold its annual community performance, Holiday of Dance, at the AAPA studios located 870 Hali’imaile Road.
Dancers of all ages will perform classical pieces from the Nutcracker ballet along with winter and holiday inspired choreography in contemporary, jazz, tap and break dance styles.
This 45-minute show is a wonderful opportunity for fans to enjoy a holiday community performance, current students to share what they have learned, and for prospective students to see the variety of classes on offer. Suggested donations of $5- Keiki $10 adult show; lap children 2 and under are free. Concessions will be sold as a fundraiser for the studio’s full-length production in the spring.
Toys for Tots Holiday Toy Drive
Maui Family Y Itty Bitty Christmas
Tuesday, December 18th, 2018
10:30am – 11:45am
Maui Family YMCA
250 Kanaloa Ave. Kahului, HI 96732
Santa is coming to town and the Maui Family YMCA invites you to help prepare for his arrival. Join us as we embrace the spirit of Christmas through creative and joyous activities.
Each child will be able to create a keepsake at one of our arts & crafts stations, participate in friendly non-competitive games, and picture taking with Santa. Decorating supplies and a healthy snack will be provided. This event will be held at the Maui Family YMCA.
Reminder to the parents – this is a free event for children under the age of five and parental supervision is required.
For more information, or to RSVP, please call 808-242-9007. RSVP by December 14th, 2018.
`Tis the Season of Aloha at Grand Wailea
Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony Sunday, December 2 from 5 to 7pm Celebrate the season with the lighting of more than seven miles of white lights strung along the Grand Wailea driveway and holiday tree reaching 25 feet. Enjoy live holiday performances, hot cocoa and cookies with festivities to include a gingerbread village, picture-taking with Santa, family-fun Hawaiian games and more. Support the Boys and Girls Clubs of Maui with a $1 ornament purchase to decorate our BGCM tree. Grand Wailea to match each $1 donation. Complimentary and open to the public.
Breakfast with Santa Saturday, December 15 from 7 to 10:30am, Grand Dining Room Maui $39 adults; $19.50 children ages 6-12. Ages 5 & under complimentary.
Santa Arrives by Hawaiian Outrigger Canoe Monday, December 24 from 9 to 11am, Wailea Beach and Chapel Lawn Santa arrives on Wailea Beach in front of Grand Wailea. Meet Santa and take photos on the Chapel Lawn. Complimentary and open to the public.
For more information or reservations, visit www.grandwailea.com or call 1-800-888-6100. Follow @GrandWailea.
Santa Visits Hula Grill Ka’anapali – December 21st at 3:30 p.m.
Every year Santa makes a special trip to Maui before Christmas. Watch as his team of reindeer paddle Santa onto Kaanapali Beach via outrigger canoe. Santa and Mrs. Clause will be on stage in the Barefoot Bar to sit with kids and hear their wishes. Santa’s Elves will be busy in the Santa’s Workshop where your keiki will get to decorate Christmas Ornaments. Festivities start at 3:00!
Bring your cameras, and your appetite. Best photo tagged with #santainslippahs will win a $100 gift certificate to Hula Grill Kaanapali. Seating is first come first served, but you do not have to dine at Hula Grill to participate. It’s just better for pictures when you do. Parking validated with purchase.
Santa will have to leave before sunset, so it is possible we will have to turn away late comers. Please be early to avoid this disappointment.
What are your kids doing over the Winter Break? There are some great ideas here –> https://mauifamilymagazine.com/winter-break-camps-maui-2018/
