Pearlridge Center was the stage for two inclusive holiday events: “Santa Cane to Town” and “Deaf Santa.” More than 80 students who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind or have low vision from schools across Oʻahu, Kauaʻi, Maui and Hawaiʻi Island participated in the events. 

These inclusive holiday events create a unique and meaningful learning environment for students to connect and create community. Both events were open for families to join, helping to build a stronger support network around the students.

“The holiday cheer and the sparkle of the season are so exciting. When students get to have experiences outside of their classrooms, outside of their homes, and come together and meet other students, friends and family, it really makes it special,” said Kira Swearingen, a state office teacher from the Special Needs Section of the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education. “We’re the DOE, we’re about schools, but we’re also about having community experiences and bringing everyone together. And I’m sure they’re feeling so excited.”

Students enjoyed a ride on the Pearlridge Express holiday train in the mall’s Mauka section, then walked to the Wai Makai section to participate in the parallel events. The dual holiday celebration offered meaningful opportunities for students to practice their skills in a real-life setting. 

Jan Fried, “coordinating elf” and professor of American Sign Language (ASL) and interpreter education at Kapiʻolani Community College, explained, “The kids who come know that this event is specifically for them. Everyone in the room is here because of them. Santa is deaf just like they are, he uses American Sign Language just like they are, and it’s an incredible opportunity for them to be able to express their wishes directly to Santa in the language that they use.” 

Deaf students shared their Christmas wishes with Santa using ASL, followed by a holiday-themed musical performance by school groups and the community. Many of the performers themselves were deaf or communicated to the crowd in ASL, filling the show with inclusive holiday spirit. 

One of the school performers was JayMart Tolentino, an eighth grader at the Hawaiʻi School for the Deaf and the Blind. He signed, “It’s a great time to celebrate, and it’s fun to be able to perform and represent the deaf school. I’m just really grateful that we have this Deaf Santa event and that we can see all the different shows and all the families can come and be friends.”

For “Santa Cane to Town,” students who are blind visited with Pearlridge Center’s Santa and also learned how to navigate unfamiliar environments — including stairs, escalators, and narrow movie aisles — with their white mobility canes. At the mall’s movie theater, students practiced life skills such as paying for tickets and popcorn, and asking for specialized headsets that provide audio descriptions for movies. Their holiday treat — a special screening of “Zootopia 2.” 

“Well, it just means that we all get to get together and we have fun, but we also get to see our friends and be part of this big community where we all just include each other,” said Eliana Fong, a seventh grader at Kaimukī Middle.  

Kendric Mills, an eighth grader at Voyager Public Charter School, added, “Us, as blind people, we work stronger together, you know. We’re like family to each other. We can never be separated.”

The inclusive holiday event is in its 33rd year and was organized in partnership with the HIDOE Office of Student Support Services, Pearlridge Center, Consolidated Theatres Pearlridge, Relay Hawai‘i, Comprehensive Service Center, and the ASL program at Kapi‘olani Community College. Southwest Airlines sponsored airfare for neighbor island students.