Pasko sa Maui in 2023
Liza A Pierce of “A Maui Blog” | Photos courtesy Liza Pierce
Pasko na naman, o kay tulin ng araw; Paskong nagdaan tila parang kailan lang. Remember this song?
Are you already thinking of Christmas? I am and I am guessing you are too. How can we not? Many stores already have Christmas items out on display. We Filipinos are known for starting the Christmas season in September (the start of BER months) and it’s now October …
For many here on Maui, our Christmas will be a little different this year, and you know what I mean. With hundreds of families displaced by the August 8 Lahaina Fire, I can’t help but think of the many families who will miss their home this Christmas season. I also think of the many businesess struggling and employees being terminated due to the delicate situation in Maui’s tourism industry. This will be the first Christmas after the Lahaina and Kula fires, and it will be tough …
How can we help? What can we do? We have to do something to somehow keep the Spirit of Christmas alive amidst the difficult situation we have on Maui. Glimmers. Letʻs create some glimmers of hope.
One particular glimmer I saw is the opening of PLAY Imua. PLAY Imua, a free toy store on Maui, at the Maui Harbor Shops at Ma‘alaea! Merchandise at PLAY Imua is free to children and families impacted by the Aug. 8 fires. According to Imua Family Services, at this store, “Children have the self-efficacy to be able to explore the store and choose a toy that is magical to them, without parents having to spend down limited income. Whether providing children with a fun toy, a gift to bring to a birthday party, a new costume for Halloween, or baby care products, the goal of this store is to help support parents and caregivers reserve their income for food, shelter and other essential items while allowing their children to have the essential ability to play. This is great for Christmas gift giving too!”
Mahalo to Imua Family Services for organizing this and Jakks Pacific Toys for providing all the merchandise in the PLAY Imua store. This generosity, along with the space provided by Maui Harbor Shops is a glimmer of hope for a Merry Maui Christmas.
Another glimmer of hope I saw was the success of the Hawak Kamay event organized by the Maui Filipino Chamber of Commerce. I am thinking that maybe … just maybe … another event similar to Hawak Kamay can be organized but this time with a focus on helping our kababayan celebrate Christmas amidst the hardship on Maui.
I also know Binhi at Ani is an organization actively supporting the Filipinos on Maui. I look forward to what they have plans for Christmas.
In the meantime, Iʻm going back to singing this beloved caroling song “Paskon Na Naman.” I love the ending lines about “love conquering all.”
Pasko pasko pasko na namang muli, Tanging araw na ating pinakamimithi. Pasko pasko pasko na namang muli, ang pag-ibig mag-hahari.
Liza Pierce of A Maui Blog is an Interactive Media enthusiast. She started blogging in 2006 and she loves talking story online and spreading aloha around the world. She’s been living on Maui since 1994 and considers Maui her home. A wife, a mother, a friend … and so much more. She loves Jesus; Maui Sunsets Catcher; Crazy About Rainbow; End Alzheimer’s Advocate. Her life is full and exciting here on the island of Maui. Liza is currently the Digital Media Specialist with Hawai‘i Life Real Estate Brokers. She is the author of the book Maui 2021 and Beyond.