Across the islands, families are drawing near today to share good tidings. But sometimes the holiday spirits conspire to mix it up, causing some to celebrate the season in unusual circumstances. Here’s a look at Christmas present in three isle settings.

Awaiting not Father Christmas, but Dad

Many families use colorful paper chains to count down the days to Christmas, but the Castro family of Mililani uses theirs to keep track of how many days before the arrival of the man in the camouflage suit.

No, Santa hasn’t gone Rambo. The "man" whose arrival was eagerly anticipated is Army Maj. Jerrold Castro of the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks.

It’s become a family tradition for Castro’s wife, Junedel, and their two children to create a paper chain during his deployments. Family members each take a turn removing one paper ring per day, a countdown to Jerrold’s safe return home. The latest chain was made with red and green rings in a show of holiday spirit as the family waited for the soldier to return from a yearlong deployment at Camp Liberty in Iraq.

"It helps the kids have a better idea of when Daddy will be coming home," Junedel said last week. "We started the countdown right after Thanksgiving this time. I always add a few extra, just in case."

Long deployments mean missed birthdays and special occasions, including more than one Christmas. Wedding anniversaries also were celebrated long distance since the Castros were married on Christmas Eve.

"He was first deployed to Korea when (daughter) Ha’ani was 9 months old," and when he returned a year and a half later, Junedel said, the toddler was confused: "She was used to seeing him on a computer screen."

While on deployment, Castro keeps in regular contact with his family through Skype and phone calls.

"We’ve been through it several times," Junedel said. "We’ve been through four deployments and know what to expect. The kids know that it’s Daddy’s job and he needs to be away."

In the weeks leading up to today’s holiday, the family was getting organized and decorating the house. Ha’ani, 5, and 8-year-old Akivajon made cards for their father, and messages of love with hand-drawn family pictures were strewn among the presents under the tree.

"We are running out of places to put them," Junedel said.

Akivajon added, "We bought Daddy two cans of Spam and wrapped them up. That is his favorite."

The two children were planning to race to see who could reach Dad first to give him a hug when he arrived Wednesday, and they were excited he’ll be able to watch their play at church.

"I’m an angel," Ha’ani said.

"I’m a shepherd," offered Akivajon.

Junedel said she was looking forward to "enjoying a big family meal. But most of all, we want to do the everyday things that families do, like go to the beach, geocaching (a treasure-hunting game) and to the movies."

Simple day-to-day activities are what the family has missed most, she explained. Ha’ani wants her father to read books to her; her brother wants to play "Angry Birds."

The Castros reached the end of their paper chain on Wednesday, when Jerrold returned to Hawaii with his fellow soldiers.

"Dad was in formation. The kids had big smiles as they watched from the side. Ha’ani was blowing him kisses," Junedel said. "It’s a really happy time. We can really enjoy the holiday.

"Things feel back to normal."

— Nancy Arcayna

Foreign visitors join a Waikiki tradition

For decades, Mark Smith’s mother and grandmother hosted Christmas parties for residents of Seaside Apartments, a quaint building in Waikiki built for his family 70 years ago.

"It was a way to thank the tenants who were their customers," said Smith, speaking of his grandmother Hazel Cooper and his mother, Mary Cooper Smith. "There would always be a lot of food, a lot of beverages, talking story, a lot of laughs. … It was something the tenants really looked forward to."

Smith’s mother died recently, and to honor her he is again holding a Christmas dinner — but the party will be for far more than the residents of the dozen units in the apartment building.

The feast is being extended to guests at the Seaside Hawaiian Hostel, a 60-bed facility located behind the apartments which his family also owns.

"I’m doing this in her memory," Smith said, referring to his mother. "We’ve done this occasionally, but now I really want to make it a regular event."

Smith’s family built the apartment building and a nearby commercial property in the 1940s. About seven years ago his family took over the hostel, which was getting run-down, to "maintain the character of these buildings," he said. "If you’re up high and look down, this is one of the few green spots that you can see in Waikiki."

His devotion to the vintage structures is evident from the new paint and well-maintained garden, making the site stand out amid Waikiki’s many high-rises.

Most of the hostel’s guests are foreign visitors, and Smith has gone out of his way to welcome them. He had a Halloween party and a Thanksgiving banquet, and hosts weekly pizza and "tiki" drink nights. It’s all intended to spark a sense of ohana (family) among his guests, who seem enthralled at the hospitality.

Alex Osagchiy, a visiting student from Russia, said the hostel "is like my family." Celebrating Christmas in Hawaii will be unusual not because of the warm weather, he said, but because "in Russia we don’t have Christmas on the 25th December, we have it on seventh of January."

Eman Abbo, a native of Sudan, stayed at the Seaside hostel when she first came to Hawaii to study at Hawaii Pacific University a few years ago, and is back after her recent graduation. She is happy to be celebrating Christmas at the hostel.

"It’s very overwhelming, actually," she said. "It started (Monday) when we started decorating the tree. … Everyone was just dancing around for no obvious reason."

A typical Christmas meal she would enjoy in Sudan features stuffed lamb. This year she’ll feast on the turkey, ham and fixings prepared by Smith.

The hostel owner spent a few years attending local grade schools but primarily grew up on the mainland. He had a successful career as a finance officer in the high-tech industry before returning to Hawaii five years ago to care for family.

He is pleased the purchase of the hostel, originally intended as a way to protect his family’s property, has become his window to the world.

"I don’t have to go out and see the world," he said. "The world comes to me."

— Steven Mark

Hospital’s kids ward animated at yuletide

Hand-decorated ornaments hang on the tree in the pediatric ward at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children. There are lights above the nurses’ counter, and doors are decorated as well.

While most people get Christmas Day off, the nurses and staff at the hospital will be working, just like any other day.

Lori Conley, Kapiolani’s pediatrics charge nurse, has worked on Dec. 25 maybe half of the 30 years she’s been at the hospital. She’ll be pulling a 12-hour shift today.

"It’s a fun day," she said. "In the past we’ve worn Santa hats; some of us wear our Christmas scrubs. A lot of nurses wear hats and jingle bells."

Otherwise the routine is pretty much the same. There are rounds to make, medications to give, patients to check on and treatments and tests to administer.

But there’s a festive feeling, too, said Conley, as several groups of carolers come through the ward.

The hospital’s pediatric ward has 46 beds in the neonatal intensive-care unit and 14 in the pediatric intensive-care unit. There are also 50 beds for ailing children at Kapiolani’s Carter and Wilcox wings.

The kids in the ward are being treated for all kinds of conditions, from broken bones to leukemia.

They are inspiring, Conley said, because they tend to see the positive despite their situations. The little ones also get really excited about the presents Santa leaves overnight with help from his nurse elves.

From decorations to gifts, the hospital does everything it can to help out families during their visit.

"We try to get as many patients home as possible, especially the outer-island kids," she said. "The ones who can’t be home, their families try to bring Christmas to the hospital."

Newborn babies are sent home in a holiday beanie and a stocking.

"We try to make it as special as we can," said Susan LaFountaine, director of Child Life and Rehab Services. "The whole family’s affected. We try to accommodate by providing activities for the siblings."

On Christmas Eve one of Kapiolani’s growing traditions is a visit from Hawaiian Airlines pilots (with one dressed as Santa Claus). They pull a wagon loaded with gifts, distributing them to patients.

Tucker the therapy dog is also around, making visits now and then.

The community pitches in every year with an outpouring of generosity, according to LaFountaine.

On the ground floor, the hospital has set up a "Santa’s Workshop" where volunteers have sorted all kinds of toys donated by the community, from graphic T-shirts designed by students at Roosevelt High School to teddy bears, quilts and Barbie dolls.

Young patients, as well as expectant moms, are welcome to stop in for a present.

The best gift of all, of course, is to be able to send kids home in good health.

"There’s no gift more precious than a baby going home on Christmas Day," said LaFountaine.

— Nina Wu