This Christmas, Santa Claus will have a tough act to follow after Luis Soltren’s 20th annual Christmas event for underprivileged children on Kaua‘i. “This year my efforts to do this program are well underway,” Soltren said. “This is something that
This Christmas, Santa Claus will have a tough act to follow after Luis Soltren’s 20th annual Christmas event for underprivileged children on Kaua‘i.
“This year my efforts to do this program are well underway,” Soltren said. “This is something that is close to my heart.”
This year’s invitation-only event will be held at the Aloha Beach Resort, with an anticipated attendance of more than 70 area children.
Like Santa, Soltren couldn’t put this event together without some helpers.
“This is not something I can do by myself,” Soltren said. “I do it with the support, love and trust of many people. This is an example of how we can do good things when we all work together.”
Soltren would like to thank Mayor Bryan Baptiste, Rep. Jimmy Tokioka, Councilman Jay Furfaro, Dr. Allen and Janet Johnson, Container Home Supply, Tony from Lihu‘e Ace Hardware, Jabarr Bean from Home Depot, Calvary Chapel North Shore, Aloha Beach Resort, Annette and Ron Wiley from KQNG radio, Lihu‘e McDonald’s, Kapa‘a Pizza Hut, Dickie Chang, Bruce Smalling from Wala‘au and The Garden Island newspaper, “for always being there for the kids.”
Kuhio Motors Inc. was the biggest contributor this year, Soltren said.
Soltren had planned on taking the kids to the Honolulu Waterpark on the Superferry, but because of all the protests, plans had to change.
“I know that the right to protest is everyone’s right,” Soltren said. “But being involved with the children for so many years I feel that there are just so many more important issues at hand facing Kaua‘i.”
Soltren points out that many families on Kaua‘i sometimes have to work multiple jobs to make ends meet, adding that affordable housing is hard to find and that many don’t have adequate health care.
“I think at a time when we probably have one of Kaua‘i’s best mayors and seated councilmembers, it would be to our benefit to work on addressing these really important issues that are affecting us now,” Soltren said.
But singling out the Superferry is not the answer, he added.
“I think we should be concerned with our children’s future and hope that they can one day own their own homes on Kaua‘i,” Soltren said. “This Christmas I hope that the people of Kaua‘i can join together in seeing the bigger picture.”
