One year of planning and coordination will culminate on Saturday, Dec. 13, for the 4th annual Christmas on the Avenue hosted by nonprofit Ahupua’a O Nānākuli Homestead.
The festive street party on Nānākuli Avenue between Mano Avenue and Piliaʻau Avenue will run from 4 to 10 p.m., with parking and shuttles available at Nānākuli High & Intermediate School. It will feature 80 vendors, free gifts for keiki, a resource fair, live performances, and more. The majority of vendors are returning this year, with some new participants.
According to organizers, the event was relaunched in December 2022 to help bring back unity in community and to create a family-oriented, safe space on Oʻahu's West Side.
“It’s a ‘By the community, for the community’ type of event,” said Christmas on the Avenue 2025 media and promotions chair Shanztyn Nihipali in an interview with Aloha State Daily. “A lot of the residents there are multigenerational households or may be the second or third generation of homesteaders, so it’s a place with lots of history, lots of pride, and they definitely do show up and show out for their community. It’s amazing to see everyone flood the avenue to just be together, support and uplift each other.”
He noted that over the years, many of the Ahupua’a O Nānākuli Homestead residents have gotten involved with the 20-person planning committee, and as volunteers, vendors and even entertainers. Within the last couple of years, they have also showcased their research of original homestead family names, honoring its 95-year history, at an informational legacy booth at the event.
Attendance is expected to be 10,000 to 15,000 people, Nihipali said, adding that they will have between 80 to 100 volunteers to assist day of.
“We have a large security team in addition to police officers to help ensure the safety of patrons, who come out and stay out to shop local and enjoy live entertainment,” he said.
Pupukahi I Holomua, which means “Unite to move forward as one,” is this year’s theme.
“The unity aspect of bringing everyone together is something that’s carried out every year but it's also the reminder that we can move forward and be the difference that the community needs in order to shy away from allowing violent things to happen along the Leeward coast,” he said.
One returning community feature at Christmas on the Avenue 2025 is Operation Blue Light Christmas, a joint effort by Nanaikapono Protestant Church and the Honolulu Police Department, that distributes gifts to children of all ages. To date, thousands of presents have been received.
“These organizations hui together, collect, wrap and then bring all the gifts to the avenue for the kids to grab and open it at the event or take it home and put it under their tree. It’s something families really appreciate,” Nihipali added.
Other activities for keiki are photos with Santa, sprinkled with games and prizes at participating vendors’ booths.
New this year is a resource fair comprised of state agencies and local nonprofits and businesses: Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Hawaiian Council, Hawaiian Electric, The Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture (INPEACE), U.S. Renal Care, and Waiʻanae Coast Comprehensive Health Center and its subsidiary ʻElepaio Social Services, which will hand out free grocery bags filled with food and produce to kūpuna while supplies last.
Three local groups – Nānākuli One football team, Kulia Volleyball Club and Ke Awāwā O Na Pilikua will work the drink stations for donations to their causes.
Nihipali said the most rewarding part is seeing it all come together, watching families enjoy their night together and have a good time.
“The most fulfilling thing about being part of the planning committee is the people I get to work with, a large group being residents of the homestead. It’s such an amazing sight to see the passion that they have for the community, and everyone’s willingness to serve in this way and give up their time to make this happen every year,” he said. “On top of that, seeing our sponsors’ continued commitment to community and being part our event story. ... So, come out. shop small this holiday season. This is a great event to find unique Christmas presents, ʻono food and great entertainment.”
For more updates, follow Christmas on the Avenue on Instagram and Facebook.
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Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros can be reached at kelsey@alohastatedaily.com.
