Gastronome

In elementary school, I recall crudely constructing a gingerbread house with the help of some recycled milk cartons and my dad. These days, I rely on those really nifty kits Easter Seals Hawaii sells annually.

It’s certainly nostalgic and fun, but I’ve never really put much thought into it. All I have to do is grab pre-made icing and get to work piecing everything together.

So when I heard about the gingerbread village at Sheraton Princess Kaiulani, I asked myself, what could possibly be so special about this particular iteration? But as I entered the lobby and rounded the corner, I saw that this is not your take-home-box version of a gingerbread house.

For about 20 years, executive chef Ralf Bauer has transformed a portion of the hotel’s lobby into a whimsical Christmas scene. This year’s village, themed “From Hawaii to the World, a Fairytale Christmas,” took nearly four months for Bauer and his team to complete. In every corner, there are snapshots from around the world, including many from right here in Hawaii.

As Bauer gave me a “tour” of his village, the lilt in his voice made it apparent that he didn’t have to try hard to make something so inanimate come to life.

“By looking at that, even if you’re not there, it brings you there,” he says, “and it brings you also to a traditional Christmas feeling.”

More than anything, what drives him to do this every year is the way it allows him to give back.

“That’s always what inspires me to built it, actually,” he says. “It’s heart.”

And for someone who generally can be a year-round Scrooge, well, even I couldn’t resist that.

120 Kaiulani Ave.
Honolulu, HI
Phone number 922-5811
website princess-kaiulani.com

Holiday World Tour

To create this year’s gingerbread village, Sheraton Princess Kaiulani executive chef Ralf Bauer relied on edible materials. These include about 150 pounds of dark chocolate and 80 pounds of white chocolate, and more than 100 sheets of gingerbread. Like myself, you probably won’t know where to look first. And that’s OK, because Bauer has provided us with a complete list of what to look out for in his gingerbread showstopper.

Neuschwanstein Castle

Built in Germany in 1869, Neuschwanstein Castle was the source of inspiration for Bauer’s showpiece in this year’s display. Bauer has visited the castle a couple of times and has wanted to tackle this particular structure from a while. At about 13 feet long, you won’t be able to miss this feature. As an example of Bauer’s attention to detail, even paintings made of edible paper are included in his interpretation of Neuschwanstein Castle.

Aloha Tower

Bauer’s Aloha Tower creation stands at the far right corner — the first thing you see if you are coming from the main lobby. Its purpose, says Bauer, is to greet those who stop to take a look. “We want to say ‘aloha’ to the world, to our customers, to our hotel guests, to everybody,” he says. Standing at over six feet tall, Aloha Tower is a structure Bauer has been building since he first began constructing gingerbread villages nearly 20 years ago.

Mt. Isabelle

You may not have heard of Mt. Isabelle — because this one is a personal dedication to Bauer’s 14-year-old daughter, who also stayed until 2 a.m. Thanksgiving evening to assist in completing the project.

Logan’s Run International Snow and Ski Park

Another tribute, this one is named after Bauer’s six-year-old son Logan.

Eiffel Tower

A little off to the side, Bauer’s Eiffel Tower is nothing short of amazing. At its feet, a colorful carousel takes imaginary patrons for a ride while charming music plays.

Kawaiahao Church

Like the Aloha Tower, Bauer includes Kawaiahao Church annually in his gingerbread creations as an ode to Hawaii.

Old Town U.S.A. with Amie’s Pastry Shop, and Fire House

In Old Town U.S.A. you’ll see people on their way to Amie’s Pastry Shop. That’s because her reputation precedes her — it’s named after pantry chef Ami Tungpalan who worked closely with Bauer to complete this year’s village.

Haiku Cable Car

To get to the top of Mt. Isabelle, you’ll have to first hop on Bauer’s Haiku Cable Car — a nod to the cable cars that transported those who worked at the former Naval information station, known today as “Stairway to Heaven.” Like many of the features in Bauer’s village, the cable car is moveable.

Other structures in Bauer’s village to be on the lookout for include: London Tower Bridge, London Eye with “Eye Skate,” Water mill, Lucas & Liam’s Fairground with “Santa’s Christmas Fair,” Pali Lookout, Waikiki/Honolulu Train Station, and Swiss Chalet, Switzerland.”