Beginning To Look A Lot Like Santa

Santa is keeping his plate full by making several appearances around the island this year. Maybe he’s dashing around in an effort to lose a bit of his belly bulge before indulging in his yearly Christmas Eve late-night cookie binge. If you missed him at the annual Lights on Rice Parade last week, you can join him for breakfast Saturday (Dec. 14) from 9 to 11 a.m. at Storybook Theatre in Hanapepe. Keiki and their caretakers are invited to celebrate the holiday with Santa while also enjoying various activities, including a talk story session with Jolly Old St. Nick, Christmas caroling, coloring and “The Spirit of Christmas” story time. Reservations are required and admission is $25 per family of two for breakfast. Register at storybook.org/events …

Kauai Coffee is hosting a holiday open house Saturday (Dec. 14) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at its Visitor Center. There will be games, a 4-H petting zoo and bounce houses. Please join in the fun and bring canned food donations for The Salvation Army …

Another holiday festivity happening this weekend is National Tropical Botanical Garden and Women Artists of Kauai‘s fifth annual Winter Fine Art Festival. Food, music and artwork created by local artists will be part of the fun Sunday (Dec. 15) from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at NTBG’s South Shore Visitors Center in Poipu …

For Make a Difference Day in October, Kauai Family and Community Education’s Club Musubi created dresses for Hawaii Island FCE members, who will bring them to girls in need around the globe during their missions. The voluntary effort was part of the organization’s “Dress a Girl Around the World” initiative …

A two-day birth conference will be held Dec. 13-14 at Children of the Land in Kapaa. “Birthing the Future” will be packed with information on the primal period (conception to age 1) and will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Suzanne Arms, a birth activist, author, documentary filmmaker, international speaker and cofounder of “Birthing the Future,” will speak to attendees about the primal period, exploration of the brain and immune system, development, cell biology, epigenetics, trauma healing and breast-feeding. Local presenters also will offer multiple workshops such as Mayan abdominal massage, Ayurvedic birth and postpartum care, midwifery and doula care. The conference is presented by Seven Sisters Doula Collective and Sacred Birthing School. Tickets cost $35 for one day or $60 for both and are available at Papaya’s, Harvest Market, Vim and Vigor, Dillberg Integrated Healthcare, Talk Story Bookstore or by calling 769-6794. For more information, visit kauaidoulas.com …

Sheraton Kauai Resort is contributing again to Kauai United Way‘s 2013 annual campaign by donating all proceeds collected from table 53 at its RumFire restaurant. The fundraising efforts are thanks to hotel general manager Chip Bahouth. The benefit is called “You Dine, We Donate,” and excludes tax and tip. Nearly $50,000 has been raised by the campaign thus far. Visit kauaiunitedway.org or call 245-2043 for more information …

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