Welcome the magic and merriment of the holidays to Hawai’i with the 1st Annual Charity of Christmas Trees! This feel-good event includes a festive tree lighting on Friday, Dec. 3rd, from 5:30 to 6:30pm at the Pukalani Stables in Waimea.
Here’s what you need to know about this merry community event and how you can be part of spreading the aloha!
Charity of Christmas Trees 2021
“Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright. The sun to shine by day and all the stars at night. Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii’s way to say Merry Christmas to you!”
In Hawai’i, the holiday season always looks a little different. Santa wears an aloha shirt. And there is no blanket of snow outside (unless you venture to the top of Mauna Kea)!
This year, the holidays look different for other reasons. As the pandemic drags on, so do the challenges for many families in our communities. Here on Hawai’i Island, unemployment rates are still high and it can be a struggle for families to put food on the table and pay the bills.
Making ends meet has never been harder, which is why it’s more important than ever for us to support those in our community who are in need. And the Big Island Giving Tree is making it fun and easy to share some aloha this holiday season with the 1st Annual Charity of Christmas Trees event at the historical Pukalani Stables in Waimea!
Come for the tree lighting on Dec. 3rd and stick around for live entertainment, HPA cheerleaders, and more. Free award-winning Hawai’i Beef Chili from Kohala Burger and Taco, hot chocolate, and warm cookies will be served. You may even want to come early and spend the day in Waimea, home to rolling pastures, cattle ranches, and paniolo (cowboys).
The Charity of Christmas Trees event is a benefit for the Big Island Giving Tree (BIGT), a non-profit outreach organization that provides holiday meals, essential living and household items, food, clothing, school supplies, and spiritual blessings to Kupuna, Keiki, and families on Hawai’i Island.
The Christmas Trees will be on display at the Pukalani Stables from Dec. 3 to Dec. 20, during the Paniolo Preservation Society’s regular operating hours, as well as during the Farmers Market hours on Wednesdays and Saturdays. If you haven’t visited the Paniolo Heritage Center before, here’s your chance to step back in time and discover why the paniolo are such an important part of Hawaii’s history.
Make a Difference this Holiday Season
The 1st Annual Charity of Christmas Trees event is about more than kicking off the holiday season and enjoying the wonder of the illuminated trees. It’s your chance to help underserved families! Here are 3 ways you can make a difference:
1. Participate in the Tree Decorating
For a $225 donation, you will receive a 5′ pre-lit, artificial Christmas tree. Each participant will choose a theme and decorate the tree accordingly! All decorations must value the holiday spirit and be at the participant’s expense. Please use good judgement when selecting the decorations for your tree. And since Waimea can get wet and chilly this time of year, make sure that the decorations are weather resistant or waterproof.
Decorating a Christmas tree is always memorable, so be sure to include your family or friends. Have fun, be creative, and remember, your donation to participate also qualifies you for the online raffle!
2. Vote for Your Favorite Christmas Tree
If decorating a Christmas tree isn’t your thing, there are more ways for you to get involved in Waimea’s Charity of Christmas Trees 2021. For a minimum of $5, businesses, community members, family, and friends are all invited to view the Christmas tree entries and cast your vote for your absolute favorite tree!
For your chance to get in on the online raffle, simply make a donation of $50 or more and you’ll qualify for an entry into the raffle. 100% of all online donations will be converted into KTA gift cards and given along with the Christmas trees to families in need.
3. Donate Prizes for the Online Raffle
The Charity of Christmas Trees’ committee is actively seeking donations and prizes for this event. If you or your place of business has something that our Christmas tree decorators and voters would enjoy winning, please consider donating it as a prize. Donations that can be used to purchase prizes go a long way too!
Ready to share some aloha this holiday season? Please scan the QR code by Nov. 29th to sign up to decorate a tree, vote, or help with raffle prizes.
On Dec. 10th, 15 families in the Waimea-South Kohala area, referred by local churches and the Big Island Giving Tree, will be randomly selected to receive the Christmas trees. Proceeds will be donated to BIGT to help families in need during the holiday season.
We look forward to seeing you on Dec. 3rd in Waimea for the 1st Annual Charity of Christmas Trees lighting and seeing all the creative decorations! Most of all, we’re grateful for your support in helping those who are less fortunate this holiday season.
And may your holidays be merry and bright!
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