From Kauaʻi’s North Shore to the North Pole: Wainiha Country Market collects Letters to Santa

On a quiet stretch of Kauai’s North Shore, a small country store is once again serving as a gateway to the North Pole.

The Wainiha Country Market is hosting its fourth annual “Letters to Santa” event, inviting children and families to drop off handwritten notes before sunset as Santa’s helpers make their annual journey north.

“We have been the portal to Santa and the North Pole since Thanksgiving,” said Joell Edwards, owner of Wainiha Country Market. “This is our fourth year, and we have to thank the many elves that help get over 100 letters to Santa.”

And once again, the North American Aerospace Defense Command known as NORAD is tracking Santa as he makes his toy deliveries.

A NORAD volunteer told Kaua’i Now that even though Santa is very busy with deliveries, he left a message with one of his elves to share with keiki across the Hawaiian Islands.

“Santa wishes everyone a great and sunny day in Hawai’i,” the volunteer said. “Have a great day, and a great holiday in the sun.”

The volunteer also passed along a message from Santa: “A big jolly mahalo to Wainiha Country Market. I think that they’re doing a great job, and I have a big thank you for their hard work.”

The federal agency is celebrating 70 years of following Santa around the world. And since 1995, a group of volunteers has joined NORAD at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs to track St. Nick.

On Kauai’s North Shore, what began as a simple neighborhood tradition has grown into an event with an expanding reach.

“Seeing the excitement, the belief, and the joy this brings to our community — especially our keiki is the best part,” Edwards said.

She said this year letters have been arriving from and sent to places as far away as Canada, California and Wisconsin.

“Everyone who writes receives a handwritten letter back from Santa himself,” Edwards said.

“What started as a simple idea has become something truly magical,” she said. “A place where keiki drop off their handwritten letters, full of hope, imagination and big dreams.”

Edwards also added that Santa shared he’s looking forward to making the pit stop at the North Shore.

“Santa has told me he is looking forward to coming back to Kaua’i, and he especially hopes that Cold Pond is extra cold, as he likes to jump into it after all his Kaua’i deliveries are pau,” she said.

Edwards added, “Mahalo to every family who shares this tradition with us year after year. We are so honored to help carry this little bit of holiday magic for our community.”

Santa’s elves at NORAD added that St. Nick is very happy with the Kauaʻi letter effort and is “looking forward to his yearly dip at Cold Pond.”

Santa is expected to pass over the Hawaiian Islands sometime between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.

To track Santa Claus or to speak with a live volunteer at the North American Aerospace Defense Command at Peterson Space Force Base, call 1-877-HI-NORAD.