POIPU — Stacie Chiba-Miguel, general manager of The Shops at Kukuiula, was laughing out loud while keeping her finger glued on the button of the snow machine Wednesday evening during the height of The Kauai Culinary Market.
“This is why this is my most favorite time of the whole year,” Chiba-Miguel said while watching the throng of youngsters and adults revel in the man-made snow that blanketed the grassy area outside The Palm Court.
There was no indication of snow (traditionally marked in blue) on the weather maps, and the snowfall was just one part of the climax of the presentation done by students from the Koloa School ukulele group, an after school program.
“Aloha! Ho, ho, ho!” the voice of Santa in Paradise bellowed from beyond the hedge, interrupting the strains of Jingle Bells and triggering the first wisps of snow.
The holiday-themed show by the Koloa School on the eve of Thanksgiving kicked off the holiday season at The Shops at Kukuiula, and announced the school’s annual Holiday Bag fundraiser.
“The gift bags, each one hand-decorated and including a holiday tag — in many cases, hand-decorated, too — and bow is available for a minimum dollar donation. We also welcome additional donations beyond a dollar at select merchants who already have the bags,” said Helaine Perel, the manager at The Shops at Kukuiula, who manned the second snow machine. “The bags are available now, through the holiday event, and thereafter at the select merchants.”
Under terms of the fundraiser, The Shops at Kukuiula will match the gift bag proceeds up to $1,000.
“Koloa Elementary School is excited to be part of the holiday festivities at The Shops at Kukuiula,” said Leila Kobayashi, the school’s principal, who had her family in tow to help with the equipment and supplies. “We are grateful for the community’s continued support of our annual holiday bag fundraiser. The students in grades kindergarten through grade five have decorated the holiday gift bags with love and care, and a lot of the bags are truly works of art.”
The Thanksgiving shopping crowd surged through The Palm Court, one hand asking to get a gift bag directly from a Koloa School student.
“We are honored to have the students and faculty of Koloa Elementary School launch our holiday celebration,” Chiba-Miguel said. “We are proud of our partnership with the Koloa Elementary School and excited to see the wonderful art the students have created through these holiday gift bags.”
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
