HANAPEPE — The Kaua‘i Escape Room and the Hanapepe Economic Alliance (HEA) are joining forces to create their first family event called “Hanapepe Holiday Hunt,” for two weeks in December, as funded by a Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act grant for reinventing Hanapepe Art Night.
The event will start on Friday, Dec. 11, and will be available to ‘ohana until Dec. 30.
“The Hanapepe Holiday Hunt is good for all ages,” Kaua‘i Escape Room’s owner Michelle Rundbaken. “Younger children will delight in finding the doors and seeing what’s inside and older hunters (adults too) get to solve clues to find doors. The Elves are in Hanapepe Town.”
According to Rundbaken, there will be miniature elf doors hidden around town with tiny works of art inside. All doors are outside for a safe experience.
Rundbaken said visitors can choose from two options to find the doors:
• A guided tour where you all the locations of the doors so you can easily find them. (This is a great option for younger children.)
• Elf Door Scavenger Hunt: Pick up your elf door guide at Popo’s Cookies and see if you can solve the clues to find all ten doors.
In addition to the holiday joy of searching for elf doors, there is a contest drawing where lucky winners will be selected for prizes.
The inspiration for the event came from another holiday event.
“We worked with HEA on a Halloween game and it was a hit,” Rundbaken said. “I feel that holiday spirit and fun is more important this year than ever so we partnered up again to give residents an experience that highlights the joy and whimsy of the holidays.”
“It was important for us to craft a game that could be visited by a range of ages and we’re so excited to share our little bit of magic,” she added.
Hanapepe Virtual Art Night’s Project Manager Renee Palmer is excited about this event’s benefits.
“I want people to have fun,” Palmer said. “To encourage families to get out of the house and do something together in a safe manner. Things are all so crazy right now, I think we could all use a fun time out, playing a game and seeing some cool art.
“And who doesn’t like the idea of finding little hidden elf doors? I think the adults could get into it just as much as the kids,” she added.
For more info go to hanapepe.org/art-night.
