December 22, 2019:
Jingle Bell Beach Run – 5k Run. The 15th Annual Jingle Bell Beach Run
The ultimate Kona running event!  Start time is at 7:30 AM SHARP with timing provided by JTL Timing Systems.  The featured 5k event encourages participation from all fitness levels and running backgrounds.  Great fun for everyone, family oriented – a perfect addition to your holiday celebrations! And parents…be sure to get your kids ready for ‘SANTA’S KEIKI DASH” – a popular fun Kona running event for children 6 & under! (100-yd & 200-yd events)
A Unique Kona Running Event
Largest Kona Running Event
The Jingle Bell Beach Run began in December of 2005 in an effort to kick off Christmas week with a bang! The idea blossomed from the creative mind of Rani “The RoadRunner” (Tanimoto) Henderson, who wanted to give the run a Christmas twist. With only a week to turn her idea into reality, the creation became an instant hit with the first annual Jingle Bell Beach Run held on December 18, 2005!
One thing Henderson strived for was to keep this run simple and fun. With that in mind, and together with the help of her husband Penn, it has grown over the last few years into a first-class event – one that participants remember, enjoy, and return year after year for more! In addition, awards are given out to the top overall finishers as well as the top three best dressed Christmas costumes. Raffle prizes follow the awards, so it’s very hard for one to go home empty handed! | Registration Opens August 1st for the 2019 Event |
Santa’s Keiki Dash
A fun, free event for kids 6 & under. Parents are welcome to accompany their children. Non-competitive, no awards, just lots of fun with plenty of goodies! Features a 100-yard dash (4 & under – 1x lap around sand volleyball court), and a 200-yard dash (5-6 years – 2x laps around sand volleyball court). Keiki Dash starts at 8:30, following the completion of the Jingle Bell Beach Run 5k event. Free registration on race morning at the start/finish area (Coconut Grove). Parents must sign a waiver for their child. Keiki Bib #’s will be issued at registration.
*Please Note: All Keiki participants MUST WEAR SHOES. Mahalo!

December 21, 2019 – December 23, 2019:
West Hawaii Dance Theatre Presents The Nutcracker Ballet. West Hawaii Dance Theatre lights up the holidays  by presenting  “The Nutcracker Ballet”.  This delightful  holiday classic is performed at Kahilu Theatre  on Saturday, December  21, Sunday, December 22, and Monday, December 23, 2019. All performances will be at 2:00pm A Full Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Brian Dollinger with musicians of the West Hawaii Dance Theatre Orchestra will accompany the dancers.The visually stunning festive family-friendly production includes more than 70 dancers and Guest Professional dancers. Shaina Liebson, Alberta Ballet and Ballett im Revier in Germany, Damir Emric, Royal Danish Ballet, Miho Tsutsumi, Matsuyama Ballet Company, Ryuske Kishida, Yanomoko Ballet Company, and Timour Bourtasenkov, Carolina Ballet and Bolshoi Ballet. Choreography is based on the original Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo version, and has been  updated for this years production by West Hawaii Dance Theatre’s Artistic Director Virginia Holte, Co-Director Midori Satoh, instructors Jenna Ojeda, Ann Marie Pargett and Megan Joy Chapman  and Guest Choreographers Soili Arvola &  Miho Tsutsumi.The Nutcracker Ballet combines the music of Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky with the charming, old world fairy tale based on the original E.T.A. Hoffman story The Nutcracker and the King of Mice.The Nutcracker tells the story of Clara, who is given a magical Nutcracker Doll on Christmas Eve by her eccentric Uncle Drosselmeyer.  Adventure awaits as she and her transformed Nutcracker Prince battle the frightful Rat King before embarking on a journey through the Land of the Snow.With the the help of the delicate Sugar Plum Fairy, Clara and her Prince travel to the Land of the Sweets where they are entertained by an Arabian Princess, Spicy Spanish Dancers, Giggling Chinese Dancers, delightful Marzipan, and beautiful Waltzing Flowers.A Silent Auction and Nutcracker Boutique will be held in the lobby. Proceeds will benefit WHDT’s ongoing programs, scholarship fund, and studio renovations. WHDT’ s  2019 Nutcracker Ballet is sponsored by Hilton Waikoloa Resort, Hawaiian Airlines, The Dayton Foundation, Vance Wall Foundation, and Valerie Cartwright & Richard Olazaba.
Tickets: www.kahilutheatre.org
Information:   Phone West Hawaii Dance Theatre  (808) 329-8876   www.whdt.org
WHDT is a Non-Profit Educational Arts organization under IRS Code 501 (c)(3) and is supported in part by the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, Hawaii Community Foundation, Atherton Family Foundation, Cooke Foundation, Vance Wall Foundation, Ironman Foundation, Macy’s and our local businesses and families. Founded in 1989, WHDT Academy transforms individuals and builds community with a comprehensive graded dance program.

December 19, 2019:
Henry Kapono + Hawaii Honda Dealers Holiday Concert Series. Hawaii Honda Dealers and Grammy-nominated artist Henry Kapono are helping music lovers unwrap the holiday season with concerts featuring Henry Kapono’s classic songs. The three-part series titled “Happy Holidays from Henry & Hawaii Honda Dealers; Celebrate the Holidays with the Classic Songs of Henry Kapono and Cecilio & Kapono” will take place throughout the month of December, providing residents all over Hawaii the chance to jam along to some of Henry Kapono’s most popular albums such as Henry Kapono’s “Home in the Islands” which is also Hawaii Honda Dealers Association’s theme song. Kapono will also perform several Cecilio & Kapono classics. A portion of all proceeds from these events will be donated to the Henry Kapono Foundation, which helps give back to the community through music and arts. But wait, Henry Kapono & “the band” have more gifts to share – some of the concerts will also feature special musical guests including Johnny Valentine and Alx Kawakami. The schedule of performances includes: 12.19.2019 The Royal Kona Resort (Henry Kapono & Johnny Valentine): 5:00 pm – Call 808-329-3111 for details 12.21.2019 The Maui Arts & Cultural Center: 7:30 pm – Tickets on sale soon

December 15, 2019 – December 16, 2019:
The Chamber Orchestra of Kona presents a pair of holiday concerts! Join the Chamber Orchestra of Kona (COOK) in a celebration of this festive season with more than an hour of orchestral music. The concert will feature holiday favorites including Sleigh Ride by Leroy Anderson, Silent Night featuring Michael Cripps, COOK’s principal cellist, Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24, a rendition of the Ukranian Bell Carol as performed by the Trans Siberian Orchestra and more! And we’ll send you out singing as you join the orchestra in a sing-along medley of favorite Christmas carols. The Chamber Orchestra of Kona, more familiarly known as “COOK,” generally presents 4 pairs of concerts between September and May of each year. COOK is comprised of over 30 local musicians from all works of life including retired educators, realtors, medical professionals and even a professional musician or two! If you are interested in playing with COOK please contact the organization through the website.

December 14, 2019:
Hula Arts At Kilauea: Hula Kahiko. VAC’s Hula Kahiko series continues, Saturday 10:30-11:00 AM. The performance takes place on the kahua hula (hula platform) located near the Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The performance will take place in a one-of-a-kind outdoor setting at the kahua hula (hula platform) in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Audience members are encouraged to bring sun/rain gear and sitting mats. This presentation is free and open to the public and will be presented authentically in an outdoor setting, rain or shine without electronic amplification. National Park entrance fees may apply. These free events are supported in part by Hawaii Tourism through the Community Enrichment Program.

December 13, 2019:
West Hawaii County Band in Concert for the Holidays! The West Hawaii County Band will present an hour of festive music for the season. Come enjoy standards like Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride,” “White Christmas,” and “Mele Kalikimaka” as well as stirring medleys including “A Canadian Brass Christmas” The West Hawaii County Band, a unit of the Hawaii County Band, performs throughout the year at monthly concerts and local civic events including Memorial Day, Veteran’s Day, Ironman and more. The band is comprised of over 20 local musicians from all walks of life including professional musicians, educators, physicians and more.

December 11, 2019:Zappa 7: Hilo Jazz Orchestra 7th Annual Frank Zappa Tribute Concert. The Hilo Jazz Orchestra has enjoyed worldwide recognition for their exciting performances of Frank Zappa’s music and they have been invited to Germany to perform next summer. In 2017 Frank Zappa’s son and Grammy award winning guitarist Dweezil Zappa came to Hilo to perform with the band, and they have earned the endorsement of Ahmet Zappa and the Zappa Family Trust. The Hilo Jazz Orchestra is the subject of the documentary film Zappa U which follows the band in the months leading up to their 2016 Frank Zappa tribute concert. This year’s show will feature Zappa songs never before played by the Jazz Orchestra as well as some old favorites. “We’ve got a really exciting set planned for this show” says Veilleux, “it’s a great mix of accessible songs and face-melting instrumentals that show off the band’s talents. And, this show isn’t only for Zappa fans, we often hear from audience members who were not familiar with Zappa that they love the show!”

December 10, 2019 – December 31, 2019:Hilo Hula Tuesday at the Bandstand. Every Tuesday our non-profit organization, Destination Hilo, presents a one-hour free performance featuring our talented local musicians and hula halau at the bandstand. In addition, a cultural practitioner teaches the art of lei-making. Conveniently located at the Bandstand across from the Hilo Farmers Market, this event provides a warm Hawaiian welcome to visitors. Always a lively performance, you may have the opportunity to learn a little hula or some Hawaiian words. Please join us on Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to noon.

November 30, 2019 – December 01, 2019:
Hilton Waikoloa’s Ohana Christmas Craft Festival. Hilton Waikoloa’s Ohana Christmas Craft Festival on November 30th and December 1st, 2019 between 9am -5pm (Saturday) and 9am–4pm (Sunday). Free Parking and Free Entry. Located in the Grand Ballroom at the Hilton Waikoloa Village Resort. Join us for a day of Christmas spirit and warm aloha with amazing and unique Christmas gifts, Entertainment, Silent Auctions, Santa Claus, Children’s crafts and more!

November 29, 2019 – December 01, 2019:
Volcano Village Art Studio Weekend. Over Thanksgiving weekend the Volcano Village Artists Hui will host their 33rd annual Art Studio Weekend. Visitors are invited to meet the artists in their studios, and see artworks in a wide variety of media. Pottery, hand blown art glass, hand tooled metal, and fiber art as well as photographs, paintings, drawings and prints will be on display and available for purchase. All are Made in Hawaii. New this year, there will be demonstrations of art making at each of the studios on Sunday, December 1st. These will include everything from clay mask & tile techniques and “make & take” earrings, to watercolor painting, metal tooling, hot metal forging, and more. A special drawing for pieces contributed by the artists will be held on the last day of the event. Participating Hui members this year include Lisa Louise Adams, Margaret Barnaby, Pam Barton, Emily Herb, Zeke Israel, Elizabeth Miller, Misato & Michael Mortara, Ira Ono, Ricia Shema and Erik Wold, along with guest artists Charlotte Forbes Perry, Cynee Gillette-Wenner, Scott Pincus, Randy Sutton & Joan Yoshioka. www.volcanovillageartistshui.com