Christmas in Hawaii

North of Kailua-Kona, in the Waimea-Kamuela-Kohala area, it does get a might bit chillier than Kona, during the Christmas season. Some say that it gets down right cold, if you consider the mid 50's cold. Cold in Kohala is nothing like cold in the northern regions of the mainland though, but cold enough that some of the homes in this northern part of the island are equipped with fireplaces. But, you won't find anyone roasting chestnuts over their open fires. Maybe kukui nuts, or macadamia nuts, but not chestnuts. Chestnuts are not grown in Hawaii; nor is holly or mistletoe.

For the most part, at sea level, Hawaii is on average, a balmy 86 degrees most everywhere else during the Christmas season and all year long. Except for..... 

If you live in the big city of Honolulu on Oahu, more than likely you will buy a tree that has been shipped in from the mainland or from one of the Christmas tree farms from one of the outer islands. We grow our own trees on some farms on the Big Island, on Maui and Kaua'i.

The favorite imported trees are the blue spruce and the Douglas fir, but many of us grow our own trees right in our own yards. The only time I remember ever buying a tree was when I was living on Oahu for school. Usually we would go up mauka (into the mountains) and cut a tree. There are many different varieties of pine growing in Hawaii, especially in Kohala. Most of the time we were very lucky and would find a wonderful, fragrant tree to bring home. Douglas firs are my favorite, but the Colorado Blue Spruce is easier to find

Norfolk pines from Australia grow prolifically on the Big Island. It's always easy to find one of them, but we would usually pass them by, unless it was our only choice. They are not very pretty (too symmetrical); their pine needles are very waxy, looking artificial; and they don't have any scent. In fact they do look like artificial trees and they last do last forever though, just like an artificial tree!

I have had good luck rooting them and replanting after the holidays. You know what that means though, don't you? Another tree to decorate in the back yard next year! Whoohoo!

The people of Hawaii are very creative and can come up with many different ideas not only for decorating the trees, but also for the trees themselves. We will decorate the coconut trees, the palm trees, the mango trees, the banana trees, the avocado trees,the keawe trees, the kukui nut trees - it don't matter. If you have a tree or a bush growing in your yard "we going decorate".

Photo of Hawaii Christmas Trees by Jennifer - AbsentMindedProfessor
Photo of Waimanalo Christmas Tree Farm by Sweetpea Mama

I have had many a seashell themed Christmas tree in Hawaii. I decorated the trees with seashells, starfish, opihi shells, sand dollars, sea urchin shells and sea urchin quills that I had found on the beach and crafted into Christmas tree ornaments.

A miniature tree decorated with tiny seashells and tiny star fish make a great accent piece for a guest room, a dining room table center piece or a bathroom.

Seashells may not be readily available where you live. If that is the case, you can still create a lovely seashell themed tree by purchasing shells on eBay or at your local craft store and make them yourself. You can also buy them at any number of places on the Internet.

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Hawaiian Dolphins and Sunset Christmas Ornament

For all you keikis that sang along ~ click on dis link to send one ledda to Santa Claus at da North Pole.
Letter to Santa

Mom's ~ There's some free Christmas Stories too that you can read to your keikis (children)!

Aloha from Santa in Hawaii!

Remember
A Free Letter From Santa
Bring a smile to your children, family members, and friends with a Free Santa Letter. Many customizable letters to choose from. Free to print or email, you're sure to bring joy to people's faces this Christmas whether they're near or far!

In Hawaii we call flip flops, rubber slippers. In pidgin English it's "Rubbah Sleepahs".

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Tropical Flip Flops Sandals Blown Glass Christmas Ornament

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Hawaiian Christmas Ornament Santa on Beach

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Velvet Tropical Beach Santa Swim Christmas Stocking

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Tropical Island Palm Tree Santa Christmas Ornament

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Motorcycle Riding Santa Tropical Christmas Tree Ornament

Music and dance is a huge part of our lives in Hawai'i, and the spirit of Christmas goes hand-in-hand-with the spirit of aloha. The people of Hawai'i have sweet and loving natures with hearts as large as the ocean that surrounds this small, but magical island chain. 

All of the traditional Christmas carols have been translated into the Hawai'ian language, but the Hawai'ians did not stop there. Hawai'ian Christmas music has been created that will bring tears to your eyes when you feel the deep emotion within the music and are able to witness the beauty of the hula that is the essence of the spirit of aloha and the spirit of Hawaii.

Traditionally, the music is played on Hawai'ian style "slack-key" guitars and accompanied by ululeles.

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Hula Wahine Hand-Painted Glass Ornament

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Basic Hula - Intensive Hawaiian Instruction

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Hawaiian Style Hula Christmas Dance Routines DVD

In the year of our Lord 1835, King Kamehameha III declared December 25th to be an official holiday as a day of "Giving Thanks". It wasn't until 1837, when the Roman Catholic Jesuit priests were celebrating Christmas while anchored in Waianae Bay on Oahu that the day was then called "Christmas" to celebrate the birth of Christ. Christmas caught on and eventually the King changed his royal proclamation.

Prior to that, Christmas was not celebrated at all because of the Missionary influence. They did not believe in celebrating Christmas as they believed it to be a Pagan holiday.

It wasn't until 1843 that Christmas became official......
Click here to see the Hawaiian Coat of Arms Pendant

There really aren't any "traditional Christmas meals" in Hawaii. Some cultures will stubbornly cling to their immigrant backgrounds, but for the most part, Christmas dinners are a big bowl of poi. In other words, they are all mixed up with a little bit of this and a little bit of that from all the ethnic backgrounds Hawaii is proud to claim.

Partly because of my father's haole background, and partly because the beef from Parker Ranch was excellent and plentiful, most times on Christmas Eve we had either roasted a beef tenderloin or a prime rib. On Christmas Day, however, my Hawai'ian relatives would throw a luau. But even at the luaus it wasn't all Hawai'ian food either. There was traditional Hawai'ian food, Japanese food; Chinese food; Filipino food; Korean food, Portuguese food; Spanish and Mexican food; Samoan, Tahitian, Tongan, Maori and Guamanian food; and haole food, which covers all Celtic and European food. One time we had visitors from the mainland that brought Ethiopian food!

Easy Dakine Oven Roasted Kalua Pig

Yeah! For Real! No Joke!

Here's how:

Preheat oven to 450 degree F.

What You Need:

You get one 5 to 10 lb. pork butt
(depending if feeding only little bit or one crowd)
You get one big roasting pan or pot to hold the pork butt
(no need da lid so no worry if no can find)
1 bottle liquid smoke
(no worry bradda & seesta, you not going use da whole ting; unless maybe you make 20 lb. pork butt)
Hawaiian Salt ( Das OK. if no mo; use Kosher salt instead)
Hawaiian Ti Leaf (If get)
Aluminum foil
one rack in da roasting pan
(no worry if no rack, no need)

Dis How:

You get da liquid smoke and pour all ova da pork. Rub it in where eva can.
Get da Hawaiian salt (or Kosher) and pour one handful in da hand. Rub da salt all ova da pork butt.
Wrap up good wit da ti leaf (hard to get in mainland, so if no more, no worry)

If no ti leaf, put da pork on da rack in da roasting pan wit da fat side up.

Cover da whole ting with double sheet foil. Make sure you seal um tight.

Put in da oven.

Wait 5 minutes.

Turn oven down to 250 degree F. and leave inside for 8 hour.

No peek for at least 6 hour.

Depending how big da pork butt. If 5 lbs. try cook 6 hour din check
If easy to pull of da bone den done.

No peek for at least 6 hour if 5 lb. or more!

When pau (finish) let cool little bit so no burn da fingers, den pull-shred
off da bone.

So easy, no?
Auwe!

Note: If you live some place what has banana leaf or ti leave, then try wrap
da pork in da leaves befo sealing wid da foil. If you no got ~ no worry! Still going be ono-licious!

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Hawaiian Salt

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Island Seasonings Hawaiian Smoke Salt Seasoning
I love this seasoning & use it on everything that needs a smoky flavor!

Spicy Ono Hawaiian Seasoning
Do you like spicy? If you do you will love this spicy Seasoning

The Perfect Gift this Christmas is the Gift of Organically Grown Kona Coffee .

For years, visitors to Hawaii have been taking the taste of Kona back home with them in the form of 100% Kona coffee. Now you can have it shipped direct to a loved one as a thoughtful and aromatic Christmas gift from Kona. The coffee from the KOA Coffee Farm is organically grown on the hill sides of the Kona Coast mountain range. In this mountainous area of the Kona Coast the coffee trees flourish in the rich volcanic soil, and are warmed by the morning sunshine and watered by the afternoon liquid sunshine that falls, almost without fail, every afternoon The coffee berries are hand-picked at their peak and then sun-dried naturally to bring out its characteristic flavor.

You can order your coffee today and have it shipped from KOA Coffee Farms

I am so honored, excited
and a bit overwhelmed from being selected for the Christmas Lens of the Day! When I received my email from Squidoo HQ today, telling me the good news, it brought tears to my eyes. Not only because it is a LOTD, not only because it is Christmas, but also because it is my very 1st ever Lens of the Day! It is a good feeling and a great Christmas gift.

Mahalo Nui Loa to all of you who so generously voted for this lens. I am most grateful!

Mele Kalikimaka and a Hau'oli Makahiki Hou!

I have been truly honored by a purple star falling from the heavens to land here granting my wish! This lens was awarded a purple star on 26 December 2011. The giant squid organizers here at Squidoo award purple stars to lenses they consider to be quality lens created by all-star lensmasters. To learn more about the Purple Star Program click the Purple Star below:

Squidoo provides a really nice service that leaves you with a very special "just gone to Heaven" feeling.
It is when you are "Blessed by a Squidoo Angel".
It is very similar to spreading the aloha!
You feel good when you get one and you feel good when you give one.
This blessing is an acknowledgement that gives your lens a special boost
for all your hard work, and verifies it as a quality lens.

Mahalo nui loa to all the Angels that work so hard to find our lens and give us their blessings :)