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Santa Claus may need a fur suit at his home base in the North Pole, but he happily dons “lei apparel” for the start of the fa-la-la-la season in Hawai‘i, arriving via outrigger canoe at OUTRIGGER Waikiki Beach Resort.
This beloved tradition draws residents and visitors alike for pictures with Santa right on the beach, while OUTRIGGER guests may join him afterwards for exclusive photo ops next to the koa canoe in the resort’s lobby. His 20th annual arrival at 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, also marks the start of several other special Santa appearances around the islands at OUTRIGGER resorts.
Sam Rodrigues, a renowned competitive paddler and retired social services worker, lets his curly white beard grow out to a luxurious length in time to portray Waikiki’s Santa. While he may wear a red and white palaka (Hawaiian plaid) cap, board shorts and jacket with a big black belt and white trimming in classic Santa style, or red board shorts with a red and white aloha shirt for a more hang-loose look, Rodrigues and his fellow paddlers in the six-person canoe typically make a splash even before they hit the shore.
“We’ll all jump in the canoe together wearing our shirts and hats, and sometimes we’ll have camera guy shooting as we’re shouting, ‘Merry Christmas,’ and a lot of people are tripping out because they don’t see a Santa like that,” says Rodrigues. “While we’re catching waves, we sort of watch people gather in front of the OUTRIGGER hotel, and when we’re ready, we catch one wave and we’ll catch it all the way to the beach.”
Santa on Oahu
Along with the excited onlookers, hula dancers with Halau Puka‘ikapuaokalani will welcome Santa to Waikiki Beach this year, creating even more Instagram-worthy images.
“I spend a lot of time on the beach,” Rodrigues says. “I just feel if they want to take a picture, they can take as many pictures as they can. Then we walk up the stairs saying hi to everyone as we go up to the second floor, where there’s a four-person koa canoe, for more photos.”
Rodrigues has played Santa in other settings on O‘ahu, but says the free photo session at OUTRIGGER Waikiki Beach is particularly gratifying. “People from Kalihi or Japan, they don’t have this contact where they can touch Santa and take a picture without being charged. I don’t care what they do with the photos, as long as the kids are happy and the parents are happy they brought their kids. Everyone’s really happy.”
Rodrigues will also portray the jolly old elf at the Dec. 13 Breakfast With Santa hosted by Kani Ka Pila Grille at OUTRIGGER Reef Waikiki Beach, which includes photo-taking, balloon twisting and airbrushed body art for children. “They have a little platform for me in a nice place, and parents and grandparents will come up and take pictures,” Rodrigues notes. Children are often fascinated by his “full Santa beard,” he adds, with a laugh. “I tell the kids, ‘Don’t pull it off!’ ”
More Santa Merriment Across the Islands
This year will also mark the first arrival of a Hawaiian-style Santa, also traveling via outrigger canoe, at OUTRIGGER Ka‘anapali Beach Resort. On Dec. 19, guests can watch Santa land on the beach at 11 a.m., followed by selfies with him on the resort’s Naupaka Lawn. The complimentary Aloha Friday celebration also includes Hawaiian music, hula and carols presented by resort hosts at 11:30 a.m.
On Hawai‘i Island, Santa Claus will take up residence in Santa’s Village at OUTRIGGER Kona Resort & Spa the week before Christmas. Resort guests may take a selfie with Santa and his elves, compose a letter to send to the North Pole and enjoy other complimentary holiday cheer from noon to 1 p.m. and 5 to 6 p.m. daily Dec. 19 through Dec. 24. To further get into the gift-giving mood,
OUTRIGGER Kona guests are also encouraged to celebrate National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day on Dec. 20, which means they can commemorate their hideous hilarity in a free selfie with Santa that day, too. For those who perhaps prefer more tasteful attire and professional photography, special “Say Cheese With Santa” photo sessions will also be held from 5 to 6 p.m. Dec. 23-24 at Santa’s Village.
While it may be too warm to keep the ugly sweater on all day for OUTRIGGER Kona’s free Holiday Pop-Up Night Market Dec. 20, local food and craft vendors will be sure to make holiday shopping festive for residents and guests like. Resort guests ages 6 and older can also create their own gifts — holua sled and outrigger canoe ornaments, jingle bell bracelets and puka shell jewelry — in free holiday crafts sessions Dec. 19–29 in the resort’s Aloha Center, available by reservation.