Holiday Events in West Hawaii 2015

Spending the holidays in West Hawaii offers some fabulous events to attend! There are really fun things to do, memories to be made and food to be enjoyed, and best of all, helping the community, too! This is my fifth year of living in Kona full time, so I know a few things about fun things to do in West Hawaii for the holidays! Being MY blog, I get to tell you about two events I am putting on, one event I am selling tickets to, one event I am attending and one Spaghetti Night put on by my client. The good news is that they are fun, many help local charities and some are “only in Kona” kind of events. Ready?

December 5th- Habitat for Humanity West Hawaii Inaugural Gingerbread House Competition

• Decorating gingerbread houses with your friends and family, cheering the teams on, and raising funds to build a house for a mom with four kids is all part of the fun at Daylight Mind Coffee Company on Dec. 5th from 9 am -12 pm. If you want to come by and see this “Food Network” competition inspired contest, cost is only $5 and includes refreshments with an amazing ocean view. Teams are vying for a night at the Volcano Treehouse, gift cards to HPM and a holiday gift basket from the presenting sponsor, ChoiceMart. We are still looking for teams! Only $100 and you get a gourmet gingerbread house and candy kit! Go to the Habitat for Humanity site to sign up and get more info.

December 5th-Christmas with the Chefs at Kamakahonu Bay

This is THE food event of the holidays in West Hawaii! Held outside at the Courtyard King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel Luau Grounds, the event is a fundraiser for the  ACF Kona Kohala Chefs Association providing scholarships to culinary students. My client, Chef Cary Peterson, of Kohala Burger and Taco, is serving up local ahi burgers and there are 22 other chef stations to sample from, too! Wine provided by Alex’s Westside Wine (he has an “island” of fine wines to sample from! This is one of those events you attend that you can’t believe you get to be in Kona for the holidays with the warm air, the festive spirit and the fabulous variety of foods offered by the most prominent chefs on the island. Cost is $85. Tickets available here. 

December 3 and 10- All-You-Can-Eat Spaghetti & Meatballs Night at Kohala Burger and Taco

Chef Cary Peterson, owner of Kohala Burger and Taco has a Sicilian father in law who has taught him some amazing recipes for his Thursday Spaghetti and Meatballs Night being held on Dec. 3 and Dec. 10th from 5-7 pm in Kawaihae.  The meatballs are Hawaiian grass fed beef and have the zest of a pure Sicilian meal! If you are looking for an affordable meal (c’mon, $10 for dinner?) with Italian music, and the ability to BYOB, well, its a deal and beyond tasty!

December 11- Lava Lava Beach Club’s “Feast on the Beach”

There are three reasons to attend this VERY fun holiday fundraiser: You get to roast gourmet marshmallows on the beach, there is amazing entertainment with Henry Kopono and LT Smooth playing to the sounds of the waves crashing on the beach AND the wine is free flowing and very tasty. Everyone looks like they have been transported to paradise at this food and wine event as people mingle in a happiness induced fog. Tickets are $125 and are available through Habitat for Humanity West Hawaii (one of the beneficiaries) and they WILL sell out! (email Isobel at [email protected])

December 12-Holiday Crafting Fair at Kona Pacific Public Charter School

If your idea of the holidays is making wreaths, bees wax candle dipping, creating Gnome gardens, and ornaments then this is the event for you! The Holiday Crafting fair is being held from 10 am-2 pm and craft making ranges from $3-$15. Proceeds help send kids like mine on field trips! I have personally gathered wood, lichen, moss, and various foliage from Volcano to Koloko for the wreaths and the Gnome gardens! Such a fun time for kids who can also enjoy a free Marionette show and ukulele performance. Affordable, highly engaging and the memory making is priceless!