by A surfing boy in Honolulu asks where Santa is from, how the Hawaiian Islands formed, and what the aloha spirit means
A Letter to Santa from Honolulu, Hawaii
Dear Santa,
Aloha Santa! My name is Kai and I am 8 years old. I live in Honolulu, Hawaii, on a warm island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, with beaches and palm trees everywhere. I love surfing and playing the ukulele. My question is: where is Santa Claus from? My geography question is: how were the Hawaiian Islands formed? And my social studies question is: what does the aloha spirit mean? Mahalo, Santa!
Love, Kai (age 8)
Santa’s Reply
Ho ho ho, aloha Kai! A surfer with a ukulele warms my chilly heart. You asked where I am from. The place I call home, where I am from today, is the North Pole, a snowy spot at the very top of the world where my workshop sits among the ice and reindeer. My story first began far away with kind Saint Nicholas long ago, but my home address now is the frosty North Pole. And here is a funny thought: your sunny Hawaii is just about the farthest, warmest place from my cold home, which makes your letter all the more delightful.
Your geography question: how Hawaii was formed
The Hawaiian Islands were formed by volcanoes. Deep beneath the ocean, hot melted rock pushed up through the sea floor and slowly built mountains tall enough to rise above the waves, becoming islands. Your own Hawaii still has active volcanoes today, which means the islands are, in a way, still growing. Read more at National Geographic Kids.
Your social studies question: the aloha spirit
The aloha spirit is a beautiful idea at the heart of your own Hawaii. The word aloha means much more than hello and goodbye, it carries a feeling of love, kindness, welcome, and respect for others. Living with the aloha spirit means treating everyone with warmth and care, which sounds a lot like Christmas to me. Explore more at Britannica Kids.
Catch a great wave for me, Kai. Yours warmly from the North Pole, Santa Claus.
