Deaf Santa
By Mele Kalikimaka

Deaf Santa began in 1990 on the campus of the Hawaii Center for the Deaf and the Blind when Santa made his first appearance and surprised the students at HCDB by being able to communicate to them in sign language. The program expanded to the PearlRidge shopping complex the following year and included all the deaf and hard of hearing students on Oahu. Neighbor Island students were included in 1998 with the assistance of community sponsors.

The Deaf Santa Program is now an annual event sponsored by the Pearlridge Shopping Center. Currently in its twelfth year, deaf children communicate directly with Santa using sign language and are exposed to an hour long program featuring deaf community members. The focus of the program is a Christmas story read by prominent community members interested in promoting literacy among deaf children. Previous readers have included First Lady Lynne Waihee, Gallaudet President I. King Jordan, Gallaudet University Provost Jane Fernandes, and Mrs. Ramona Harris (wife of Honolulu Mayer Jeremy Harris). The audience includes 150 deaf and hard of hearing elementary age students from public school programs throughout the State of Hawaii. This event draws a large segment of the deaf community, enabling deaf youngsters and oldsters to mix and communicate in a celebration of cultural experiences