KAPAA — Josie Pablo, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation Kauai Region recreational director, was not available Monday to greet the Kalaheo School Sunshine Express who arrived to present its holiday offering to the residents at the Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital.
“She’s busy picking up Christmas trees so everything will be ready,” said Wilma Chandler, a volunteer.
“Snowflakes, Friendships, and Winter Cheer” are on tap, Dec. 2 from 4:30 (food sales start) to 9 p.m. in the Mahelona Hospital courtyard when doors open to the fourth annual holiday lighting.
“This is a lot of effort,” said Joe Arruda from the Mahelona Hospital Maintenance Department. “We started setting out some of the items over the weekend, and we still have more to come. But when you see all the families coming to visit, the residents smiling from the excitement, and everyone being so happy, I guess it’s all worthwhile.”
The courtyard is lit by thousands of Christmas lights, each section being decorated by a community sponsor, and the effect is enhanced with the addition of inflatables, a snow machine, and ringed by festive activities, including a Christmas Fish Pond sponsored by Grove Farm, and face painting with the Kapaa High School Art Club. There will also be picture-taking with Santa.
“We’re already late,” said Sharyl Lam Yuen of the Grove Farm Company as she worked on their section of the courtyard. “Josie emailed us, and wanted us here, yesterday so they could check on the electrical draw from our displays. But this is the holiday crunch time, and this is when we could make it because we have an educational module, tomorrow.”
Entertainment includes the Kapaa Middle School Choir and Ukulele Band, Kimberly Hope on violin, vocalist Shaunne Souza, and pianist Janet Kass.
The Showtime Characters will make an appearance, and there will be complimentary cookies and cocoa provided by the Kauai Marriott Resort.
A lucky person will leave with a one-night stay in an oceanview room, including breakfast for two plus resort fee at the Sheraton Kauai Coconut Beach Resort that is the prize of the lucky number drawing.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
