Got Aloha for a Teacher?
Planning a holiday party can often feel overwhelming, stressful, and leave you wondering if it is possible to carve out a little quality time with family? The secret to creating a meaningful party or gathering is to create traditions that shift the focus away from fancy decor, gifts, and catered food. For instance, Baking bread with Friends, Lighting the Menorah Celebrations, and Homemade Ornament Exchanges are just some of the ways you can have an enjoyable, meaningful holiday celebrations with memories that are treasured far more than anything left under the tree.
Make your holiday tradition involve eating from a locally grown or produced menu. Locally grown food items provide a fresher taste, support our local farmers, and cut down on the pollution created when food is shipped in to our islands.
Martha Cheng, staff writer at Share Your Table, made a delicious 100% local Thanksgiving meal. Read how she did it.
Reduce waste by choosing reusable plates, forks, glasses, napkins, tablecloths, etc., instead of single-use materials. If supply is a problem, ask guests to contribute. For example, ask your guests to make cloth napkins out of old Christmas tablecloths or sheets and bring them to the party. They make any table look festive and provide fun holiday memories to share.
The Goodwill and Salvation Army stores are great sources for plates, glasses, cups, and silverware. If you have to go with single-use items, check into biodegradable and compostable options such as bagasse plates and corn starch cups.
Thirsty merrymakers at your party? Consider using a large pitchers of water and your favorite punch with reusable glasses instead of bottled drinks. For other bottles and cans, be sure to place recycle bins in plain site for your guests!
Locally Grown Food:
Biodegradable Foodwares:
Aloha
Energy
Food
Government
Waste