Celebrating the holidays while social distancing
by Donica Kaneshiro | Dec. 21, 2020
The holiday season is upon us, but with the pandemic still surging across the country, the question on everyone’s mind is: how do you stay COVID safe and still celebrate?
While many of our holiday traditions will have to be altered this year, here are some ideas to make the season merry, without jeopardizing health and safety.
A lot of the big residential light displays are canceled this year to discourage crowds but stores are reporting booming sales of Christmas lights, so you may see more neighbors spreading Christmas cheer if you take a drive around your neighborhood. Or check out the professional drive-through Show Aloha Land display with one million LED lights blinking in time to holiday music at Aloha Stadium through Jan. 9.
If you enjoy kicking back in your car, head over to one of the many drive-in movies around the island. Most have holiday offerings whether at the Polynesian Cultural Center, Ala Moana Center, Holy Nativity School or Mililani Golf Course.
Distance learning has left many keiki short on arts and crafts opportunities. The Hawaiʻi Children’s Discovery Center has holiday crafting kits for $5 or literacy kit rentals with four books to borrow and two crafts for $8. Ben Franklin Crafts is hosting a Virtual STEAM Camp Dec. 14–18. Order the supply kit and the Zoom code online.
Christmas isn’t Christmas without some sweet treats. Plenty of people have taken advantage of time at home this pandemic to up their baking game. If you’re in need of some holiday recipes, there are cookie, brownie and homemade cocoa recipes on our website: https://www.hawaiianelectric.com/recipes.
Before you know it, the calendar will read Dec. 24, and the pandemic won’t keep Santa away. On Christmas Eve, you can still virtually track Santa’s flight via NORAD technology.
While you are making new traditions this year, don’t forget to wear a face covering when within 6 feet of anyone outside your household and frequently wash your hands with soap for 20 seconds.
Donica Kaneshiro is a communications consultant at Hawaiian Electric Company.
