KAPA‘A — About 80 children, their siblings, parents and friends celebrated the 25th annual children’s Christmas party and gift-giving event Sunday at Kaua‘i Beach Resort. The kids were greeted with a decorated hall with goodie bags, helium balloons and face-painting,
KAPA‘A — About 80 children, their siblings, parents and friends celebrated the 25th annual children’s Christmas party and gift-giving event Sunday at Kaua‘i Beach Resort.
The kids were greeted with a decorated hall with goodie bags, helium balloons and face-painting, perhaps to keep them happily distracted from the presents along the wall.
Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. was present to read a proclamation declaring it Luis Soltren Appreciation Day. The honor was to acknowledge 25 years of devotion in organizing the Christmas party for the special children of Kaua‘i.
Carvalho spoke of how the annual gift-giving event has evolved into a festive dinner celebration that goes far in spreading the joy and happiness of the holiday season.
Soltren said simply that without the long line of volunteers and partners with the project he would not be celebrating the 25th event on Sunday.
County councilman Dickie Chang was also present for the event.
Kasey Rivera, 18, of Kapa‘a has volunteered for three years and said the program makes all the hard work worthwhile. “It is a really great feeling bringing happiness to people,” she said.
Monika Lee, 13, of Puhi has been a part of the program since she was 10 years old. “I like helping the little kids,” she said.
Miss McKenna Pascual, 14, of Hanapepe was present in her title as 2011 Petite Miss Na Hoku O Kaua‘i. She has held the title since October and said her connection to the Christmas event goes back further through her father.
“It’s good to help the community,” Pascual said.
Brenda Biehler brought some of her Showtime Character’s team to provide the entertainment for the kids. After dancing to a three-song set, the costumed characters continued their roles out in the audience greeting as many kids as they could.
“We’re proud to be part of the program,” Biehler said.
According to Biehler, the favorite Christmas character of Luis Soltren is “The Grinch.” The irony was not lost on the volunteers as the Grinch joined Santa at the gift-giving session and promptly began taking the presents.
Soltren solved the dilemma by having the kids shout “we love you” to the Grinch three times to “rehabilitate” the character into Santa’s helper for the evening.
After a spaghetti dinner and Happy Meals, there was entertainment from Showtime Characters and songs from Tommy and Malia Tokioka.
To each child who received a bike, Luis made them first promise to follow the rule of never riding without a helmet.
The skateboard and running scooter recipients had to add elbow and knee pads to the rule.
There was a gift-card making table, where kids were given paper and crayons to say thank you in their own way. Some kids made their cards and presented them to Soltren before the end of the event.
One young woman came up and took the microphone from Soltren to thank everyone involved for thinking enough of her to find out that the art supplies she received were exactly what she wanted.
Immediately following the Christmas event at 10 p.m., Biehler and about 20 cast members began rehearsing for the Monday evening event on the same stage.
Soltren, a Wailua home builder, started Soltren’s Bikes for Special Children Program 25 years ago. Starting last year, he expanded his fundraising efforts to include benefit concerts and also began using a wish list program to ensure kids get the presents they want.
The Wish List is in partnership with Rosie Carillo of the Children’s Justice Center, who works with case workers to identify kids through the Department of Human Child Welfare Services, YWCA, Hale ‘Opio, Hale Kipa and the Soltren family.
Caseworkers collect the children’s top three gift requests, and Carrillo compiles the wish lists and presents them to Soltren.
• Tom LaVenture, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or tlaventure@ thegardenisland.com.
