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Annual ‘Winter Wonderland’ Event Brings Families Together

he community center at the Aliamanu Military Reser- members of the Army MWR Schools of Knowledge, Inspira-
Tvation, Hawaii, did not let balmy temperatures outside tion, Exploration & Skills Unlimited (SKIES) program.
prevent it from coming alive this
past Dec. 16 with cheer, inflatable
holiday décor — and snow.
The annual USAG Hawaii
Winter Wonderland event, hosted
by the Directorate of Family and
Morale, Welfare and Recreation and
put together by DFMWR Special
Events Coordinator Mary Negron,
began early in the morning with
“Breakfast with Santa,” where par-
ticipating military families enjoyed
a meal prepared by Fort Shafter’s
Hale Ikena Conference and Ban-
quet Center.
After breakfast, they lined up
for the “Snow Zone,” where a From left, Hailey and Sarah
mound of 25 tons of fresh, man- Brindle play with man-made
made snow awaited them. With their snow in the “Snow Zone”
parents in tow, children explored during Winter Wonderland
at the Aliamanu Military Res-
the bright, white playground. ervation Community Center.
“It was awesome,” military PHOTO: KRISTEN WONG, USAG
spouse Chantel Horner said, add- HAWAII, USA
ing that the highlight of her day
was watching her son’s reaction to
the snow. “He’s never had that experience before, and now Vendors sold street food and refreshments, while com-
he does, so it’ll be good for when we move someplace where munity organizations set up informational booths.
they have snow,” she said. Two photo booths — one for snapshots exclusively with
In addition to Snow Zone, there were numerous other Santa, another for photos with other Christmas characters, such
activities at nearly every turn in and around the community as The Grinch, and Elsa and Anna from the movie “Frozen” —
center: a balloon station, ornament-decorating stations, bounce were available to help families preserve memories of the day.
castles, sports activities and more. “I think it definitely brings the community together since
Entertainment awaited in the form of performances by we are away from our families,” said Sophia Pal, who donned
magician Mark Allen Mauricio of the AFRC Hale Koa Hotel’s reindeer antlers and posed for photos with her son, Nico. “It
“Magic in Paradise” show, as well as dance performances by forces us to get together and make new friends.”

PHOTO: ANDRÉ ASKEW, USAF A Place To Play

hildren play on the jungle gym
Cduring the Keesler Play Place
Grand Opening ceremony Jan. 3,
2018, at the Bay Breeze Event
Center on Keesler AFB, Miss. The
play place was created in response
to feedback from a survey of the
Keesler AFB community indicat-
ing that families needed an indoor
place to go during extreme weather
conditions. Included in the area are
multiple slides, climbing appara-
tuses, obstacles and a lounge area.

4 MILITARY CLUB & HOSPITALITY | FEBRUARY 2018