Lahaina Ace Hardware employees show their Christmas spirit in and around a seven-foot-tall gingerbread house they created two weeks ago. Photo by Walter Chihara.

LAHAINA — Last year during the holiday season, Lahaina Ace Hardware ran a Christmas decoration promotion that lit up Old Lahaina Town.

For 2010, the theme is a traditional gingerbread house.

Led by store Supervisor Korleen Puou, Lahaina Ace Hardware employees created a four-foot by four-foot by seven-foot edible structure with gingerbread walls, candy canes, graham cracker framed windows and a cookie — 40 dozen of them — roof that took eight hours to build.

The jolly, holiday spirit house is on display in the center aisle of the store, and Puou and the Ace staff invite the community to come in and enjoy the fun of Christmas time with them.

“We encourage the community to come in and take part in the fun — get involved in the holiday spirit,” said Puou, standing beside Santa’s sleigh next to the sparkling gingerbread house created by the staff.

“We invite everyone to join us in our holiday fun and participate in our gingerbread house decorating contest.”

Puou explained that up to 20 entries will be displayed in the store and will be required to use the decorating kits on sale at Ace.

The 20 entries will all have 12-inch by 12-inch bases. There will be a children’s category for kids age ten and under, as well as an adult division. Entry deadline is Dec. 18, and judging will take place on Dec. 20, with winners notified the following day. Prizes will be awarded in each category for first, second and third place winners.

“Everyone, please come in and have some fun with us — take pictures, make greeting cards, take part in the gingerbread house contest. Enjoy yourselves and get the holiday spirit,” said Puou.