I have to laugh! I was just looking for your Kauai thread to post one last Christmas suggestion and I saw this one! We spent last Christmas on the Big Island in a little house that we love on Kealakekua Bay. Our Christmas tree consisted of a very interesting branch(?)that my husband found on an undeveloped lot nearby. It was probably six feet tall and had not a leaf or pine needle on it. He managed to anchor it somehow and we had a ball beautifying it with tinsel and leis, lights, and lots of origami. The origami took on a life of its own but that's another story. It was a bit of a Charlie Brown Christmas tree but we loved it. I'm sure anyone else coming into the house thought that we were crazy but it was fun. On Christmas morning we not only had presents and stockings full of goodies but a bay full of whales. It was an amazing day! But what I really wanted to share with you was a high point of our trip, and one of my favorite experiences on any of our Hawaii trips. On Christmas Eve, we attended a candlelit church service at a local Congregational church. We had walked past the church a number of times and noticed a sign announcing the Christmas Eve service. We decided to go to and it was an amazing service. The church itself was built in 1824. The plastered lava rock walls were probably two feet thick. The windows were all open and warm breezes and the scent of flowers filled the church. We were greeted with an amazing amount of aloha. People welcomed us, hugged us, smiled with us. The pastor was Hawaiian and performed part of the service in Hawaiian. There was an amazing choir made up of people literally from 6 - 80 years of age. It was a treat to be enveloped in this community for the evening and to listen to the voices and the melodic sounds of familiar songs sung in Hawaiian. The service ended with everyone holding a candle and singing. It was unforgettable. I bring this up because there is another old mission church, either Congregational or "Union" in Makena, a mile or so south of the Four Seasons on Maui. I believe that their services are in Hawaiian. I would definitely consider checking this out. It was such a great experience. Also, on the opposite side of the spectrum: the goat dairy near Kula that I mentioned before is on Omaopio Road. They may have a website. They sell goat cheese to all of the hotels and restaurants on Maui. I wouldn't do a trip just to the dairy but if you were heading up to Kula and upcountry anyway, it would be a fun spot. The lavender farm in Kula is a lovely spot. I am blanking on its name but it has an amazing view and wonderful lavender products made by a group of local artists and "tutu's" - grandmas.
Also, re: your other Maui post. I wouldn't drive all the way to Ka'anapali to snorkle. There are some great spots near the 4-S. Use the Maui Revealed Book and the beach folks at hotel for good snorkling advice. Mele Kalikimaka! (Which reminds me- get a CD of local performers doing Christmas songs- lots available at Borders or Walmart or probably Costco in Kahului. Really fun!)

Kip,
Thanks again for your helpful advice! It sounds like your family has a lot of wonderful memories; I hope we can make some special ones for our family too. I would like to go to a Christmas Eve service so I will do some research when I arrive.
I am trying to relax a bit about the plans and just have some options available if the kids decide they can be parted from the beach/pool. However, Christmas is such a special time of the year, especially for kids, that I hate to just treat it like any other day. That's why I would like the tree and some gifts too. Did you bring your gifts with you or did you buy them in Hawaii? Has anyone ever had gifts flown in for the big day??? My girls both want an American Girl doll and I can't imagine making room for those in our luggage! Obviously I can't buy them when I arrive. Would the hotel let me ship them to their hotel and then hold them until I arrive? That would be such a treat for them!

$250.00 just to have a Christmas tree in the room?????

Ashley,
For all of the planning you have done and all of the wonderful memories you want to create for your girls.....I just cannot wait to read your trip report. Kip's description of the Christmas Eve service gave me goose bumps. How wonderful that service sounded.
I see no reason why the hotel would deny you the privilege of shipping those great dolls so you will have them on Christmas morning! Just remember, you are going to probably have to ship them back home also! But, that's part of going to Hawaii.....shipping stuff home because you bought too much while you were there!!

How special to receive American Girl Dolls while in Hawaii! You could even hang a trip to Chicago or New York to the American Girl store on the tree! (They have dinners and shows with the girls, their parents and their dolls).If you've not been to their web site: http://www.americangirlplace.com/agp_exp_splash.php

We spent one Christmas in Maui when my kids were smaller (1 & 3 at the time) We had a very little artificial tree that I had packed and were sure to bring their stockings which I filled with all little wrapped goodies so it felt more like christmas for them. We had my mom set up our tree at home while we were gone, lay out the big gifts etc... so when we got home a week later the kids freaked out to come home to a second christmas! It was very special and they loved having the two christmas times! Excessive? of course but we had suddenly lost my husband's father and needed all the joy we could muster up. As far as the American Girl dolls go, I bought my little girl a great American Girl "How To Doodle" book at Chapters. It is flat, easy to wrap and pack. It is full of activities that can make the plane ride home seem shorter too. Down the road from the 4S in Kihei there is a permanent christmas shop that has all kinds of christmas stuff, but I don't know hte name. Have a great time!

We always go to California (from Hawaii)for Christmas, so we are very familiar with the "bringing home of ackward gifts" issue.

The way we deal with it? we bring little gifts in our suitcase, plus buy stocking stuffers when we get there.

Meanwhile, we have left the tree and all the big gifts at home. Either I do a hurricaine rush to set it all up while they're in the cab, or I have friends come in and do it while we're gone. The tree has been up for weeks, so it isn't part of the surprise.

The kids know this, so aren't disappointed with their small haul on Christmas day. Even when they were little, it made perfect sense that Santa would leave their big stuff at home. It is so much fun guessing what waits for them when we get home that the return flight goes very quickly.

Ashley, I'm experiencing deja vu! Santa delivered my 4-yr-old an American Girl doll (Kaya) to our little pink house on Kealakekua Bay. We had him ship it to the people we were renting from and they brought it down to the house for us and put it in a storage shed for us. The big trick was getting my other daughter's Josefina doll over without her noticing. My husband came over a few days after we did and packed her in his backpack. Both girls were delighted on Christmas morning although I think that my little one really was more interested in Kaya's dog than in Kaya (and we hadn't gotten her the dog.) Other than the doll and a super cool boogie board for my 8-yr-old, we kept things pretty low key. We really emphasized the treat of being in Hawaii for Christmas. One other fun thing: my brother and sister-in-law went out about midnight and drove around the little community of Napo'opo'o and jingled sleigh bells. I'm not sure if the kids heard them but we thought it was great. You might call the concierge at the 4-S and ask about shipping Christmas gifts to the hotel. We did send one box home after Christmas as well.

Both my girls want the new surfer doll from American Girl Co. that is a limited edition (one year or until they are gone). I thought that would be really neat to get surfer dolls in Hawaii. Wow! I am getting so excited about this trip!!!
By the way, does anyone know what the name of that Christmas shop in Keihi is called?
Kip,
I totally agree about the emphasis being on the trip and not gifts. But I have never been without a Christmas tree on Christmas day before and I think it would be rather sad. As far as the dolls go, I want that to be a surprise, not something they are expecting. The trip itself is really their "big" gift.

Ashley,
I have to smile a big old grin every time I read one of your posts.
It is thrilling to note your excitement!
What a grand Christmas this is going to be!

Ashley24
Just wanted to add that the American Girl doll is an investment in the life of your grandchildren. Our granddaughter (14yrs) lovingly packed her two dolls away with all the books,furniture and clothes that went with them. They now wait in storage until inherited.