Our rundown of holiday crafts, from Dec. 1 through Dec. 25, proves no two creations are alike…
No. 3 – Shadow boxes have emerged as a must-do, too; this season, I did three.
I added red, green and white glittery paper cut to fit the slots, then assembled miniature icons of Christmas: a Santa, candy cane, Santa cap, trees, gingerbread man, snow man and reindeer and more. Flat visuals, like adhesive stickers, work best. For this particular creation, I utilized images from the same set of stick-on brand, so there’s kind of a uniformity in the figures in each slot. No two creations are ever the same, however.
The North Pole and thin-Santa on either side of the shadow box are clothes pin adorments.
Streetlight Cadence, Hawaii’s favorite sidewalk group, will stage a nostalgic reunion concert at 7 p.m. Dec. 13 at the downtown Hawaii Theatre.
The legendary band — now a trio featuring Jon Andrew Franklin, Ben Chai, and Clara Stegall — has been famous for its “Will Pay For Food” slogan that developed into a concept that led to performances as an avenue for food; this has been notably showcased by the original band with a contingent of serenades on Hawaii’s sidewalks, turning the artistry into a streaming Emmy-nominated TV series.
Former Streetlighters will join the Hawaii Theatre show: Chaz Umamoto, Brian Webb, Jesse Shiroma, Evan Arashiro, Matt Mariconda, Maia Wolf and Daniel Duncan, assembling a rock opera full of hope, laughter, and heart, fusing music with memories that will likely be inspiring, too.
Local artists Anthony Pfluke and Higgs also will be on the bill.
Streetlight Cadence is a multi Na Hoku Hanohano Award-winning act.
It’s been three years since SLC has performed on the sidewalks. The group has since come full circle; the concert will certify and fortify the musicians’ ongoing dreams of the past and the hopes of the future.
Kalani Peʻa, three-time Grammy Award winner, will stage his third annual H – 3rd Annual Hawaiian Christmas Show at 7 p.m. Dec. 21 at the Hawaii Theatre.
Guests will include kumu hula Olana Ai, Natalie Ai Kamauʻu, kumu hula Shelsea Ai, Hālau Lilia Makanoe, and Starr Kalāhiki, with Mele Apana as host.
Continuing our countdown of sharing holiday-inspired craft creations, through Christmas:
No. 2—A snowman on a red cube is an annual tradition, with variation. I seek ornaments with dangling legs, and this snowman fills the bill. A Santa or an angel also work and Daiso is often a resource for these danglers.
For several years now, I’ve launched an annual countdown to Christmas tradition enabling me to share a range of holiday decorations I make for gifts.
Most of the items assembled are destined to be presents, including a bundle ordered by a friend for her friends.
Like the holiday lapel pins I create, these desk and table décor allow me to engage in my hobby of sharing holiday crafts and reflect on why or how I did these 25 items.
Disclosure: The best way to indulge in an end-of-year project like this is to seek, collect, make, or purchase a variety of items year-round to assemble as needed to create Christmas items. With a glue gun, and your thinking cap, you’ll be amazed what you can create.
I appreciate hand-made items, which is why I make ‘em.
So beginning now and continuing through Christmas day, I’ll feature 25 ornamentals and reflect on the how and why they were created. Let the countdown begin…
No. 1—With Mele Kalikimaka as a theme, I assembled a Santa-like male figure and a Hawaiian hula dancer –in actuality, mini fabric dolls — in front of a papier mâché house with walls the shade of sand which yield an island tone. Added “Mele Kalikimaka” signage, a Christmas tree, a gift, a holiday lollipop, plus a pine-and-berries cluster. Final touch: a string of white lights. And voila, this becomes local all the way. This is one of the larger items I’ve done this season….
Cirque du Soleil, the magical and mystical show that embraces diverse circus acts fused with cultural traditions, is 40 years old now, with a proud history.
Its French-Canadian co-founder, Guy Laliberté, was visiting Hawaii in 1984, and was inspired by the gorgeous sunrises and sunsets here. He connected with the beauty and energy of the sun, mostly while on the beach, and created a myriad of Cirque signature productions over the decades.
The Cirque sun logo
The company’s logo, not surprisingly, depicts the soleil, which is French for sun.
Finally, decades later, Cirque has come full circle to launch “‘Auana,” its first Hawaii-themed, Waikiki-based spectacle, premiering Dec. 5 at the Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel’s second-floor theater-showroom. “‘Auana” means “to wander or veer off the beaten path or to embark on a new journey.”
The logo for the Hawaii Cirque show, “‘Auana.”
Requests for specifics on the show have been denied; little has been announced, regarding content, performing cast and other details. However, with an island cultural history consultant and a Hawaiian choreographer, it’s safe to assume that the productions will depict Hawaiian motifs, perhaps chants and even hula, and showcase island-inspired costumes.
The show’s website boasts sequences inspired by “Moana,” the wayfaring navigator with the Disney pedigree, a glimpse of Hina, the moon goddess, and a fiery volcanic segment.
Neil Dorward is director; the island resources are Aaron Sala, cultural creative director; Manaola Yap, costume designer; and Hiwa Vaughan, island choreographer.
Performances will be Wednesdays through Sundays, and following the opening few days when only one show is staged, the schedule eventually will include shows at 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. The running time is 1 hour, 20 minutes.
Historically, Cirque du Soleil has been a popular attraction for local audiences; the company staged “Saltimbanco” in 2008 and “Alegria” in 2010, with much success at the Blaisdell Arena. Because of its new Waikiki residency at the Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber resort, “‘Auana,” should attract islanders, for certain; the target audience will be global visitors who previously supported Cirque over the past four decades and newbie spectators seeking grand entertainment beyond the customary luau shows…
And that’s Show Biz…
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“‘Auana” by Cirque du Soleil
What: A Hawaiian-themed spectacle with the Cirque du Soleil acrobatics
