Pinoy Christmas spirit thrives through parols in Seafood City in Waipahu

Photo from iSawRed/Unsplash

Infused with the vibrant spirit of Filipino Christmas, Seafood City in Waipahu has evolved beyond being a mere grocery store; it has blossomed into a dynamic hub for the local Filipino community, especially during the festive season.

As the holiday season unfolds, the aisles of this California-based Filipino supermarket chain radiate with the warm and colorful glow of traditional Filipino parols, seamlessly transporting Hawaii into the heart of cherished Filipino holiday traditions.

From the simplicity of paper designs to the intricacy of elaborate modern creations adorned with bright blinking lights, these handcrafted parols are carefully imported from the Philippines (sourced from Pampanga) introducing an authentic touch of Filipino Christmas to the islands.

Via Van Bokhoven, the marketing associate for Seafood City, proudly underscores the authenticity of the parols in a recent Hawaii News Now interview, stating, “They’re all handmade. There’s no machine that can do it.”

In the spirit of fostering community engagement, Seafood City recently organized a free parol-making workshop on Dec. 9.

Expressing gratitude, they wrote on a Facebook post, “We want to thank everyone that came to our Parol-Making Workshops. We look forward to having more in the future so we can continue or encourage this beautiful Filipino tradition.”

Highlighting their commitment to inclusivity, they also mentioned that while they have previously hosted Parol Workshops in other store locations, they encourage those who have just discovered the workshop to embark on parol-making at home using online tutorials.

“We hope to continue the tradition of parol making for years to come,” they expressed with enthusiasm.

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Beyond its role as a seafood and grocery retailer, Seafood City serves as a cultural bridge, importing an extensive array of products from the Philippines, ranging from packaged foods to traditional attire crafted from pineapple fiber.

These contemporary creations seamlessly infuse elegance and modernity into the timeless tradition of parol making, ensuring that the Filipino heritage thrives under the welcoming roof of Seafood City.