KAPAA — Keena Ellis-Elgart relished the pampering by Jeanette Huttger, owner of Salon J, Sunday afternoon at the salon in Kapaa. “She loves Princess Day,” said Keena’s mother, Tess, who watched the beautician work the young girl’s hair. “She’s all
KAPAA — Keena Ellis-Elgart relished the pampering by Jeanette Huttger, owner of Salon J, Sunday afternoon at the salon in Kapaa.
“She loves Princess Day,” said Keena’s mother, Tess, who watched the beautician work the young girl’s hair. “She’s all prepared to be a princess with her princess dress. She has several dresses at home. She wants to be a princess, and knowing that it helps other children makes her feel special. This is her second time participating in Princess Day. There should be more events like this so she can dress up.”
Huttger, her Salon J staff and several volunteers hosted the fourth Princess Day, with proceeds earmarked to benefit Kauai Special Olympics.
“I got this idea from Disneyland,” Huttger said. “More specifically, it was the beauty shop in the Sleeping Beauty Castle. We tried it out and it took off.”
Jennifer Lopez, Huttger’s daughter, said the afternoon was pretty much sold out.
“We have a big group of six young ladies coming in,” Lopez said. “They’re coming together so they can go out and have dinner following their treatment.”
Young girls come to the Kapaa beauty salon garbed in their princess wear. They are greeted by a staff of beauty professionals from Salon J who work their hair and nails and apply makeup. The process is completed when Tinker Bell offers the princesses a choice of glitter and sprinkles it in their hair. From there, the princesses have a photo session in their new looks, the results being emailed to them.
“Each year we feature a different Disney princess,” said Huttger. “This year’s princess is Moana, and the children love it. They sing the songs from the movie and enjoy the music, which comes from the different Disney princess movies.”
Lopez estimates that more than $2,000 will be donated to Kauai Special Olympics. Last year, the beneficiary was the YWCA of Kauai.
Ellis-Elgart, looking forward to an ice cream social with her fellow princesses, is already waiting for next year’s Princess Day.
“We definitely need more reasons to let the young girls become princesses and wear their princess dresses,” Tess said.
Salon J hosts Princess Day on the first Sunday in March.
