Friday & Saturday, December 16 & 17:
Live Nativity.  Celebrate Christmas by bringing your ohana (family) to Crossroads’ drive-through Live Nativity.  Enjoy different scenes depicting the timeless story of Christ’s miraculous birth.  You can also park your car and enjoy festivities in the main tent.  Free crafts for keiki (children), hula, keiki (children’s) choir and food. Crossroad Christian Fellowship, Kapa`a Bypass Rd., Kapa`a.  6:30 to 8:30 p.m.  For information call (808) 821-2228.

Wednesday, December 14:
A Nutcracker Sweet.  Ballet Hawai`i puts on one of the most anticipated programs of the holiday season, “The Nutcracker”. Enjoy a sampling of this sweet concert with the Hawai`i Symphony Orchestra. You will enjoy a free lanai performance at the Blaisdell Concert Hall during the December Farmer’s Market. Get into the holiday spirit and enjoy selections from this classic holiday program. Blasdell Concert Hall, 777 Ward Ave., Honolulu.  5 p.m.  Free admission.  For information visit http://www.blaisdellcenter.com/.

Tuesday, December 13: 
Moku`ula by Moonlight in Lahaina.  As the full moon rises over Mauna Kahalawai in West Maui, the Moku`ula/Mokuhinia restoration site in Lahaina features a free cultural and educational program open to the public. Hawaiian music and storytelling mix when popular musicians share the stage with local elders who tell their stories about Lahaina. Kamehameha Iki Park, 525 Front Street, Lahaina. 6 to 8 p.m. For information call (808) 661-3659 or visit http://www.mokuula.com/.

Sunday, December 11:
Kokua Kailua Hulihe`e Palace Concert Series & Village Stroll.  Ali`i Drive along scenic Kailua Bay in Kailua-Kona becomes a festive pedestrian-only walkway from 1 to 6 p.m. Enjoy music, artists, merchants and restaurants. At 4 p.m., there is a free Hawaiian music concert on the lawn at Hulihe`e Palace. Bring your own mat or chair and they will be checked for free while you stroll Ali`i Drive, Kailua Village (Kona).  For information, visit http://kvbid.org/.

Saturday & Sunday, December 10 & 11:
Nutcracker Sweets.  Maui Academy of Performing Arts (MAPA) presents Nutcracker Sweets, a delightful family-friendly production of the treasured classic featuring 150 MAPA students. With sumptuous costumes and inspired choreography set to the timeless Tchaikovsky score, Nutcracker Sweets is a must-see holiday event for all ages.  Maui Arts & Cultural Center, Castle Theater, 1 Cameron Way, Kahului.  Saturday, 7 p.m.; Sunday, 3 p.m. For tickets and information call (808) 242-7469 or visit http://mauiarts.org/.

Saturday, December 10:
Holiday Tree Lighting at Ulupalakua by MauiWine.  Enjoy the lighting of a 20-foot Monterey Pine Christmas tree from Kula Botanical Gardens, live music entertainment, Santa’s arrival and photos with Santa, screening of “Home Alone” movie under the stars, holiday activities for families and sparkling toasts and tastings of MauiWine’s exclusive estate-grown wines for the grown-ups. Holiday comfort food will be available for sale by Ulupalakua Ranch Store & Grill.  Admission is free but attendees are requested to bring cans of non-perishable food as a donation to the Maui Food Bank. Ulupalakua’s Maui Wine, 14815 Pi`ilani Hwy, Ulupalakua.  For information call (808) 878-6058 or visit https://mauiwine.com/.

Fridays & Saturdays, December 9 & 10 and December 16 & 17:
Hope Station, A Christmas Drama.  Step back in time to Christmas Eve 1943 with the cast of Hope Station, a Christmas Drama with song, dance, and a story that brings hope to the midst of tragedy.  Tickets are $5 and are available at Calvary Chapel, Lihue, World4word Bookstore.  Calvary Chapel Lihue, 8-8100 Kushiro Hwy, Lihue. 7 p.m.  For information call (808) 245-9673 or visit http://www.cclihue.com/1/.

Friday, December 9: 
Jo Koy.  Jo Koy’s infectious, explosive energy on stage, insightful jokes, and family‐inspired humor cross all boundaries. In 2005, Jo had the “opportunity of a lifetime” with a performance on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He became one of a select few ever to receive a standing ovation.  Maui Arts & Cultural Center, Castle Theater, 1 Cameron Way, Kahului.  8:00 p.m. For tickets and information call (808) 242-7469 or visit http://mauiarts.org/.

Friday, December 9:
4^th Annual Feast on the Beach Benefit.  A highly anticipated holiday benefit for local charities Hawai`i Island Humane Society, Hospice of Kona, Kohala Chamber of Commerce Lava Kids, Kona Community Hospital Foundation and North Hawai`i Hospice. Feast on the Beach features beer, wine and food stations created in conjunction with Paradise Gourmet Catering, along with Lava Lava Beach Club’s signature toes-in-the-sand ambiance. Nonstop music by LT Smooth and Ho`onu`a throughout the evening.  Lava Lava Beach Club at Waikoloa Beach Resort, 69-699 Waikoloa Beach Dr., Waimea. 5:30 to 9 pm. Tickets are $150 per person or $2,000 for a reserved table. For more information, call (808) 326-7820 or visit http://lavalavabeachclub.com/bigisland/feast/.

Every Wednesday: 
Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Concert.  Host and slack key guitar master George Kahumoku, Jr. is joined by various renowned slack key masters who are true ambassadors of their music, their culture and their land for an evening of traditional Hawaiian songs and authentic “talk-story”.  December 7 – Jeff Peterson; December 14 – Ledward Kaapana; December 21 – Herb Ohta Jr & Jon Yamasato; December 28 – George Kahumoku. Seating is limited. Dinner/Show packages are available. Located at the Sea House Restaurant at the Napili Kai Beach Resort, 5900 Lower Honoapi`ilani Hwy., Napili. Doors open 6:45 p.m., show begins 7:30 p.m. For tickets and information call (888) 669-3858 or visit http://www.slackkeyshow.com/ .