SPECIAL EVENTS

LOMI LOMI WEEKEND WITH ALVA ANDREWS
Date: December 4th to 6th, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Place: Hilo, Big Island
Contact: Rebecca Avery (coordinator - 'Aina Me Kalani), (808) 959-2258, contact@healinginparadise.org
Aunty Maile Napoleon, carrying on the traditions of her grandmother and Papa Kalua Kaiahua of Maui, will teach this three day class which includes instruction in lomi lomi techniques, the spiritual basis of lomi lomi, use of pu'ili sticks in massage, aspects of pranic healing and lots of fun. www.healinginparadise.org

2nd ANNUAL CHARITY FUR BALL
Date: December 4th, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Place: Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, South Kohala, Big Island
Contact: Beate, (808)328-8455, nap14@gmx.de
Benefit for Rainbow Friends "No Kill" Animal Sanctuary in Kurtistown. alternativehawaii.com. There will be a Christmas market and doggie fashion show (open to the public), party games, dinner with entertainment, prize drawings, and dancing. 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm at Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel courtyard and Grand Ballroom. alternativehawaii.com. Tickets: $100 ($25 tax deductible charitable donation).

1ST HAWAII WEEK FOR THE ANIMALS
Date: December 5th to 13th, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Place: Statewide, Big Island
Contact: Michelle Buckalew, michelle@animalworldusa.org, 877-454-0807
This special week will highlight the importance that animals play in our lives and bring communities together on behalf of the animals throughout the great state of Hawaii. An exciting week of community-building activities will feature awesome pet adoption festivals, fun activities and scores of animal related-events.

NA MAKUA INVITATIONAL CHRISTMAS GIFT FAIR
Date: December 5th to 6th, 9 a.m.
Place: Butler Building, Hilo, Big Island
Contact: Alice Moon, 808-966-4647 or 808-969-7985 or 808-933-9772, amoon@bigisland.com
The same folks who put on the Merrie Monarch Invitational Hawaiian Arts Fair promise to bring the same high quality and standards to this holiday event. A showcase of the talents of local artists, only items made in Hawaii are allowed creating a diverse selection of unique gifts from seed and shell jewelry to lauhala hats, feather work, koa wood bowls, and more. Open until 5 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. Free admission!

BIG ISLAND BALLROOM DANCE CLUB'S XMAS PARTY
Date: December 5th to 9th, 5:30 pm -10 pm
Place: Aunty Sally's Luau Hale @ Piilani St-Hilo, Big Island
Contact: Nancy 933-1010, niteowlnorm 938-1473, Violet violeto@interpac.net
Cost: $10 members, $13 non-members. Xmas Wreath Contest - submit your Xmas Wreath to be judged. Prizes to the 3 top winners. Come join the fun to celebrate the holidays come enjoy the pupus, desserts, refreshments, fun, fellowship, new HI friends ballroom dancing, mixers, line dancing, making new friends celebrating the Xmas season.

KANILEHUA CHORALE FALL CONCERT
Date: December 6th, 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Place: Palace Theater, Hilo, Big Island
Contact: Cheryl Torrison, (808) 961-6750, cheryltorrison@yahoo.com
Enjoy a Sunday afternoon at Hilo's historic Palace Theater with choral music by Kanilehua Chorale. Admission. alternativehawaii.com. Tickets available from Chorale members and Basically Books.

YOUTH MINISTRY CHRISTMAS JUBILEE (CRAFT FAIR)
Date: December 9th, 2:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. 2009
Place: Mokuaikaua Church Grounds on Alii Drive, Big Island
Contact: Mikey Perry, (808) 329-3891, yekim75@yahoo.com
Our Youth Ministry is having a Christmas Jubilee! alternativehawaii.com. Please join us for Food, Entertainment, Vendors, Vendors and Vendors! We will also have Raffle Tickets and a Silent Auction. The Kailua-Kona Community Christmas Parade on Alii Drive begins at 5:00pm. alternativehawaii.com. See you there for some food, fun and fellowship! alternativehawaii.com. (Proceeds will fund our 2010 Summer Mission Trip to Thailand.)

1ST ANNUAL WELLNESS WITH ALOHA CULTURAL AND HEALING FESTIVAL
Date: December 12th, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. 2009
Place: Waimea Park, Big Island
Contact: Catherine Tarleton, catherinetarleton@gmail.com
Meet and learn from Hawaii's respected Kahuna at the "1st Annual Wellness With Aloha Cultural and Healing Festival". In a very special once-yearly gathering, noted Kahuna from all areas of the island make themselves available for complimentary personal healing sessions. L ive music, hula and special teachings by Aunty Aka (who gave President Obama's post-inaugural blessing) and M. Kalani Souza on the sacred way of living ho'opono pono.

12th Annual Traditional Mochi (rice cake) Pounding for New Year
Date: Sunday, December 27th, 2009
Plan a unique Christmas this year in Hawaii in our quiet little village of Wailea at Akiko's Buddhist Bed and Breakfast. Join us for the Wailea Village 12th annual mochi-tsuki celebration in making traditional rice cakes the "old-fashioned" way. The oldtimers share their stories of plantation era times and everyone takes their turn at pounding the glutinous sticky rice for good luck. Fire building starts at 6 a.m. to steam the rice. Event goes from 8 a.m.- 2 p.m. with hearty local style lunch for $5. Great Fun!! Call Miss Akiko @ (808) 963-6422 or email: msakiko@hawaii.rr.com for more information.

ONGOING EVENTS

VOLCANO ART CENTER
Date: Ongoing
Place: Kilauea, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
The Volcano Art Center is a nonprofit, tax-exempt, educational organization created in 1974 to promote, develop and perpetuate the artistic and cultural heritage of Hawaii's people and environment through activities in the visual, literary and performing arts. Under a cooperating agreement with the National Park Service, Volcano Art Center presents ongoing programs in the Park. Call: (808) 967-8222 or visit their site.

KONA HISTORICAL SOCIETY TOURS
Date: Ongoing
Place: Kalukalu (14 miles south of Kailua-Kona)
Offering a variety of guided tours, lectures, and exhibits including the Historic Kailua Village Walking Tour, the Kona Coffee Living History Farm Tour and more. For reservation & cost call (808) 323-3222. (Inquire about their breadmaking in their Portuguese oven!)

RANGER-LED PROGRAMS: HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK
Date: Daily
Ranger-led walks and hikes enrich your knowledge of the Park's resources and Hawaiian culture. Walks may be wheelchair accessible or may be longer hikes. The daily schedule of ranger presentations is posted each morning at 9:00 a.m. in the Kilauea Visitor Center. Call: (808) 985-6000 or visit their site.

10TH ANNUAL INVITATIONAL WREATH EXHIBIT
Date: 11/21/2009 - 01/03/2010
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Place: Volcano Art Center Gallery, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
7th Annual Invitational Wreath Exhibit by Island Artists. Free (Park entrance fees apply). Call: (808) 967-7565.

GRANDFATHER’S HOUSE: AN EXHIBITION ON KOREA
Date: Daily (through December 31)
Time: Monday through Saturday, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm.
Place: Lyman Museum, 276 Haili Street, Hilo
Featuring a full-scale replica of a 1930s Korean home, this unique completely interactive exhibit offers hands-on opportunities to explore life in rural Korea during the 1930s. Call: (808) 935-5021.

NELHA PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS
Date: Every Wednesday and Thursday (excluding holidays)
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. (Exhibit area open weekdays 8am-4pm)
Place: Keahole Point (one mile south of Kona Int'l Airport)
Ocean technology pioneers harness Arctic-cold deep seawater for the future of mankind. Visit the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA) recognized world-wide as a unique and innovative business, research and science technology park. Fee $5/person (children under age 8 free). Call: (808) 329-7341 or visit their site.

AFTER DARK IN THE PARK: HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK
Date: 2 or 3 Tuesdays per month
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Place: Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium
After Dark in the Park is a series of free evening programs on topics of geology, biology, Hawaiian culture and history. Call: (808) 985-6014 or visit their site.

MA LALO O KA PO LANI (UNDER THE NIGHT'S SKY)
Date: Every 3rd Saturday of Each Month
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Place: Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station
An innovative program of cultural experiences shared by members of our Hawaiian communities followed by the regular evening stargazing program. Call: (808) 961-2180 or visit their site.

AN EVENING IN THE PARK
Date: Every 1st or 2nd Wednesday of Each Month
Time: 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Place: Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park (S. Kona)
Each month, there are speakers on different topics such as traditional story telling, hula & chant, crafts, native Hawaiian forest birds,volcano eruption and more. Call: (808) 328-2288 or visit their site.

EVENING AT KAHUA RANCH - SUNSET DINNER
Date: Every Tues. & Thurs. through December 27
Place: Kahua Ranch (North Kohala)
Come visit an authentic 8,500 acre working cattle ranch owned by the Richards Family. Meet a member of the Family and learn about the Hawaiian Paniolo (cowboy). Transportation. Dinner. Local Beer, Wine, Soda/Juice Bar. Live Music & Dancing. Roping, Branding, Horseshoes, S'mores & Stargazing. Call: (808) 883-8601 or email Sue Foat .

MORNINGS AT THE PALACE - HAWAIIANA LIVE!
Date: Every Wednesday Morning (throughout 2007)
Time: 10:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Place: The Palace Theater, downtown Hilo
An educational and entertaining cultural program featuring live hula, the historic pipe organ, short films, commentary, and a segment with audience participation and interaction. Tickets are $5. Children 12 and under free. Call: Kimberly Bright (808) 934-7010.

HAMAKUA COFFEE TOUR
Place: Honokaa (Hamakua Coast)
Share a unique morning with local hosts Netta and Wendall Branco on a tour of their estate coffee farm. Learn about the entire process from planting trees, harvesting the coffee "cherry", pulping, drying, husking to custom roasting. See several varieties of coffee trees, dry land taro plants, banana, and other tropical fruit and "talk story" with Netta and Wendell about the little known history of coffee on the Hamakua coast. $35/person (2 person min.) Call: (808) 775-0385.

WAIMEA CHRISTMAS TWILIGHT PARADE & ALL-DAY FESTIVAL
Date: December 1
Time: All day (Parade starts 6:00 p.m.)
Place: Waimea (from historic Church Row to the Parker Ranch Center)
Activities throughout the day at the shopping centers, churches, & parks. Look for the tall red banners!! The twinkling holiday procession starts at 6 pm and includes 45 trucks, floats, marching bands, Santa Claus and more. Free. Food donations welcome. Call: Patti Cook (808) 937-2833.

HOLIDAY TRAIN DISPLAY UNVEILING & TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY
Date: December 7
Place: Hilton Waikoloa Village (Kohala Coast)
Help kick off the holiday season and enjoy this winter wonderland. Call: Special Events/Guest Activities Manager Debbie Wund (808) 886-2884.

PASSPORT TO INTERNATIONAL CULTURES
Date: December 8
Place: Kings' Shops at Waikoloa Beach Resort (Kohala Coast)
A fantastic mix of hula performances, food and live entertainment will be featured during this celebration of Hawaii's rich cultural heritage. Call: (808) 886-8811.

ANNUAL TRADITIONAL MOCHI (RICE CAKE) POUNDING FOR NEW YEAR
Date: Saturday, December 29
Place: Akiko's Buddhist Bed and Breakfast, Wailea (Hamakua Coast)
Plan a unique Christmas this year in Hawaii in our quiet little village of Wailea and join us for the Wailea Village 10th annual mochi-tsuki celebration in making traditional rice cakes the "old-fashioned" way. The oldtimers share their stories of plantation era times and everyone takes their turn at pounding the glutinous sticky rice for good luck. Fire building starts at 6 a.m. to steam the rice. Event goes from 8am to 2 pm with hearty local style lunch for $5. Great Fun!! Call: Miss Akiko (808) 963-6422 or email Ms. Akiko.

NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATION
Date: December 31
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Place: Coconut Grove, Kailua-Kona
The Biggest free Family Event on the Kona coast this New Year's Eve. This alcohol, drug and smoke free event will have a children's program, dance, music, bands and competitions with heaps of great prizes and "Fireworks". Wanting to make a positive difference in the community. Free Parking at the University of the Nations. Call: (808) 326-4420.

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