POIPU — This is not Hawaiian snow, a security officer said as puffs of white snow blew in the wind Wednesday as the last notes of “Menehune Santa” melded into the din of the Kauai Culinary Market at The Shops at Kukuiula.
From the hedge gate behind the singers, Santa, garbed in aloha wear and carrying a red parosol as a hedge against the wind-blown showers, appeared behind the surprised first grade students from the Koloa Elementary School.
The appearance of the jolly icon of the season capped the presentation by Koloa School signalling the start of its holiday gift bags campaign held in partnership with The Shops at Kukuiula.
“This is the seventh year that the shopping center has supported the school fundraiser,” said Helaine Perel, the center’s manager. “We’ll be delivering the student-created holiday bags to the merchants as soon as the snow clears.”
Beginning from the time Santa entered to greet the Koloa School students and weekly farmers market shoppers, select merchants at The Shops at Kukuiula will carry the holiday bags decorated by the Koloa School students. Each bag is hand-decorated and includes a holiday tag and bow. Additional bags are available at The Shops at Kukuiula’s management office.
These bags are available for a minimum donation of a dollar. All proceeds go directly to the Koloa Elementary School, and The Shops at Kukuiula will match the proceeds to the maximum of $1,000.
“Koloa Elementary School is grateful for the continued support of The Shops at Kukuiula,” said Linda Uyehara, the Koloa School principal who, following the excitement, adjourned to The Lanai for some quiet time.
She said students in grades K through five decorated festive holiday bags that can be used for purchases, or for holiday gift giving. Proceeds support our after school clubs like the Ukulele Club.
The security guard went on to explain that “Hawaiian snow” is when the guy used to knock on people’s doors to announce, “We’re burning cane today.” That was sufficient notice for residents living alongside cane fields to shutter their windows and prepare for the drifting pieces of black soot accompanied by the smoke and parade of cane spiders, mice, and insects.
