Hand-drawn shakas, ʻukulele, hula dancers and even an endangered monk seal are about to move from Maui art tables to one of the most-watched holiday stages in the country.
Students at Princess Nāhiʻenaʻena Elementary in Lahaina will see their ornaments representing Hawaiʻi displayed on the National Christmas Tree Ellipse in President’s Park in Washington, D.C., starting Thursday. The K–5 artists packed their designs with local icons - native plants and animals, surfing, the shaka and hula - and their work will hang alongside ornaments from every U.S. state and territory. For the Lahaina school, that national spotlight lands just days before the official lighting ceremony and offers the community a very public moment of pride.
How The School Landed The Honor
According to the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education, Princess Nāhiʻenaʻena was selected to represent Hawaiʻi in the America Celebrates program, which features student-designed ornaments from every state and territory. The official National Christmas Tree website lists the school on its Hawaiʻi ornament page and includes photos and captions for the students’ work. The site notes that the America Celebrates display surrounds the National Christmas Tree and will remain open through the holiday season at President’s Park.
Kids’ Art, Front And Center In D.C.
“These ornaments, crafted by students in kindergarten through 5th grade, beautifully capture the diverse splendor of our island state,” a teacher wrote on the National Christmas Tree site. The online gallery pairs drawings with short captions: one calls out the endangered monk seal, others feature surf scenes, hula and recognizable Lahaina landmarks, giving visitors a bright, kid-level introduction to Maui’s nature and culture. The Hawaiʻi page also lists participating students by first name and posts images of each design.
What It Means Back Home
Principal Ian Haskins said the display “capture the essence of our islands and the resilience and pride of our Lahaina community,” as noted by Maui Now. Teachers describe the project as pulling double duty: an arts lesson and a civic experience that lets students take a visible role in sharing Hawaiian culture with a national audience. The school provided the artwork to organizers and shared photos of students posing with their creations as part of the announcement.
A Small Sign Of Recovery
For Lahaina, still rebuilding after the 2023 wildfires, the national showcase is being viewed as a morale boost for families, staff and students. The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education's reopening updates document the ongoing work to restore campuses and services on West Maui, and educators say projects like this help students reconnect with their community and culture.
How To Watch Or Visit
The live lighting is set for Thursday, and Great American Family will air the ceremony the following night, Friday at 8 p.m. ET, with streaming on Great American Pure Flix, according to Great American Media. Those who want to see the trees in person can find ticket and visitor information at recreation.gov. The Ellipse at President’s Park is open to the public during December and early January.
