Save money by celebrating the holidays without spending a penny

Donald Boyce, dressed as Santa Claus, waves a "shaka" as he shares a wave with a surfer as he rides in an outrigger canoe off Waikiki beach in Honolulu, Hawaii, December 11, 2010. Photo by Hugh Gentry(UNITED STATES) Handout photo courtesy of Outrigger Hotels

Get a head start on your New Year’s resolution to save money by celebrating the holidays without spending a penny. Here’s how you can do it each day in December until Santa makes his visit.

Dec. 1

Puppeteer Christy Lipps performs holiday stories and songs at 10:30 a.m. at Mililani Public Library (627-7470) and at 6 p.m., Dec. 15, at Kapolei Public Library (693-7050).

Dec. 2

Castle Medical Center in Kailua lights up its massive tree at 7 p.m. Festivities start at 6:15 p.m. with a performance by the Marine Forces Pacific Band. At 7:30 p.m., Weldon Kekauoha performs and there will be visits with Santa, keiki activities and holiday munchies. Visit adventisthealth.org/castle.

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Dec. 3

The Kaimuki Christmas Parade marches up Waialae Avenue at 6 p.m. with 1,500 marchers, 35 vehicles and five floats.

Dec. 4

The Kroc Center Hawaii presents a Touch of Christmas, 6 to 8:30 p.m., with crafts, games, snow, gingerbread-house decorating and more. Call 682-5505.

Dec. 5

Visit with Shaka Santa and Tutu Mele and watch as the city’s 50-foot Christmas tree is illuminated at Honolulu Hale. Tens of thousands of spectators turn out for the tree-lighting ceremony and electric light parade, which will pass city hall at 6:30 p.m. Visit honolulucitylights.org for a performance schedule. On Dec. 12, the electric parade runs down Kapolei Parkway at 6 p.m. and culminates in the lighting of the Christmas tree at Kapolei Hale. Visit kapoleichamber.com.

Dec. 6

Central Union Church presents its 68th free performance of Handel’s Messiah at 7 p.m. Call 941-0957 for details. At the Hawai‘i Convention Center in Waikiki, Sunset Mele on the Rooftop, 1 to 5 p.m., will feature a screening of the movie “Polar Express.” Visit facebook.com/HawaiiConventionCenter for details.

Dec. 7

Enter the Keiki Kalikimaka ornament contest. If your child’s ornament is chosen to run in the newspaper, he or she will be eligible for the drawing to win one of three cash prizes. See entry form on page D3.

Dec. 8

It’s time to write a letter to St. Nick. Sure, you could do it at home the traditional way, but if you head down to Macy’s and send it via a Santa Mailbox, Macy’s will donate $1 for each stamped letter received to the Make-a-Wish Foundation, up to $1 million. If the weather is stormy, visit macys.com/believe to write a letter online. Or stop by the letter-writing station at Windward Mall before Dec. 21. Include a stamp and keiki will receive a reply from Santa. Visit windwardmall.com.

Dec. 9

Watch the Mele Mai Paki Lima Community Handbells group ring in the holiday season from 7 to 8 p.m. at Pearlridge downtown Center Court. Visit pearlridgeonline.com.

Dec. 10

Deaf and signing Santa makes his annual appearance at Pearlridge downtown from 9 a.m. to noon. Visit pearlridgeonline.com.

Dec. 11

The 8th annual Windward Choral Society holiday concert “Frozen Friday” takes place at 7 p.m. at Central Union Church. The concert will feature a Chanukah composition performed in both Hebrew and English, a choral suite from the movie “Frozen” and traditional carols.

Dec. 12

Santa arrives by outrigger canoe at 9 a.m. on Waikiki Beach fronting the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort. He will be greeted by a hula troupe and pose for pictures. Visit outrigger.com/events.

Dec. 13

Sensitive Santa visits children with autism and other sensory needs at Windward Mall from 9 to 10 a.m. The Autism Society of Hawaii is helping to make the photo set sensory-friendly with lower lighting and quieter sounds. Fill out a reservation form at windwardmall.com to participate.

Dec. 14

The Polynesian Cultural Center has shortened its Christmas Lagoon boat ride from 30 minutes to just 10, but if you bring a Pepsi product Dec. 10 to 23, the ride among the twinkling lights is free. There will also be free train rides for the keiki. More information and reservations will be posted soon at polynesia.com.

Dec. 15

Do a holiday project with your keiki. Kalakoa will be presenting a craft each week through the end of the year. See this week’s offering on Page D3.

Dec. 16

Check out the 32 tons of sand that have been transformed into two impressive holiday sculptures in the Sheraton Waikiki lobby, 2255 Kalakaua Ave.

Dec. 17

Walk though the trees at Helemano Farms, 1750 Whitmore Ave. in Wahiawa. You have to pay to bring one of their beautiful Norfolk Island pines or Leyland cypress trees home, but the strolling is free. The farm is open Wednesdays through Fridays from noon to sunset, and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to sunset. Visit helemanofarms.com.

Dec. 18

Visit 168-year-old Washington Place and check out the beautifully decorated Christmas trees at the holiday open house 5 to 8 p.m. Reservations are required; call 586-0248.

Dec. 19

Get your Christmas shopping done at Ala Moana Center, but take a break for “How to Catch Santa” storytime at 11 a.m. at Barnes & Noble. Then, in the evening, family movie night is added to the Honolulu City Lights entertainment lineup with a screening of “Polar Express” on the Civic Center grounds at 7 p.m. Bring a blanket to sit on. Visit honolulucitylights.org. Military and kamaaina get in free at the Bishop Museum, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., in honor of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop’s birthday. Check out the spectacular World of WearableArt cq exhibit in the Castle Memorial Building.

CORRECTION: Bernice Pauahi Bishop’s free birthday celebration is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 19 at Bishop Museum. A story on page D1 of Nov. 28 had the incorrect date.

Dec. 20

Honolulu Museum of Art hosts its Family Sunday event from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., when kids can decorate cookies, make glass votive tea light holders and take in a screening of the “Shaun the Sheep Movie.” Visit honolulumuseum.org.

Dec. 21

Kawaiaha‘o Church hosts a live Nativity scene, concert, storytelling games and crafts from 7 to 8:30 p.m., Dec. 5, 11, 18 and 20 to 23.

Dec. 22

At the top of each hour from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, the tree at Windward Mall will shower bubbly snow on delighted keiki for 15 minutes. (The last snow shower is at 6 p.m. on Sundays.) Visit windwardmall.com.

Dec. 23

Since Hawaii is one of the last places where Christmas arrives, download the Norad Tracks Santa app and watch Santa’s progress as he makes his way around the globe. The North American Aerospace Defense Command has been monitoring the man in red as he delivers toys around the world for more than 50 years.

Dec. 24

Get all your last-minute wrapping done while you watch ABC’s “It’s Your 50th Christmas, Charlie Brown,” an anniversary special with host Kristen Bell, followed by the holiday classic “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” Check the TV guide for air times.