Dozens of people held candles in the air as they honored their deceased loved ones together during Hawaii Care Choices’ first Season of Light candlelight tribute.
Hawaii Care Choices, formerly Hospice of Hilo, has been hosting an annual event for several years during the holiday season, but the staff decided to change things up this year and create an annual tribute for people to grieve lost family members or friends.
Musician Mark Yamanaka played holiday music throughout the event and even shared his own story of loss from this year. Speakers then gave reflections on Christmases past, present and future.
Madeline Brooks spoke about Christmases past in regard to her husband, Stanley Brooks Jr., who passed away in May.
Brooks was a quiet, reserved man from Ka‘u, so it was a surprise to his wife when one day he told her he wanted to be Santa Claus. And it didn’t take him long to develop a special talent for the job.
For 17 years, he was Santa Claus at Prince Kuhio Mall in Hilo. He also was recruited by the Ala Moana Center on Oahu to be Hawaiian Santa during the novel coronavirus pandemic. Despite his worsening health, he overcame his pain and worked to bring Santa to all.
“He knew that keiki needed a Santa that looked like them and talked like them, and he was right,” Madeline Brooks said during the event. “He freely invited families to spend time with him and believed every kid should have a chance to talk with Santa.”
For 10 years, he spent Christmas morning visiting homeless families and bringing gifts to children in downtown Hilo.
“I saw him give to keiki who never expected anything, and it was his joy to share his love and time with the children,” his wife said.
Spiritual counselor Catherine Czerepak and bereavement counselor Rev. Jihey Roach talked to the audience about Christmas present and Christmases future, respectively.
Czerepak talked to the crowd about the loss of her husband and shared her thoughts about the hardships of holidays without your loved one.
Roach spoke about the importance of understanding grief, and reminded the audience that there is a community of people who understand and grieve with them, as proven during the tribute.
After multifaith blessings from Rabbi Rachel Short, Rev. Junshin Miyazaki and Kahu Brian Welsh, the lights were turned off and the crowd lit their plastic candles row by row while listening to Yamanaka play “O Holy Night.”
“Even in the darkest of times, there is always light,” Short said during her blessing.
This sentiment was echoed throughout the event, and after Yamanaka finished the song, everyone held their candles up toward the sky in remembrance of people long-missed.
After the event, attendees visited with each other over refreshments and received a keepsake box filled with items that will help them create a small memorial for their loved ones.
Email Kelsey Walling at kwalling@hawaiitribune-herald.com.