Christmas in Honolulu

I am starting this new blog about living in Hawaii on Christmas Day, 2010. 

I want to keep the writing to a minimum and add lots of photos. Yet, Hawaii is unique and different from other places I have lived in the USA.  I will make note of those differences as I go along.

Even Christmas is a bit different here on Oahu in Honolulu.

Home decor can feature unique Hawaiian themes – such as decorating the boat or outrigger canoe that is parked in your driveway, or having hula girls gently swaying as part of your outside Christmas lights.

Decorated Boat - Kaneohe, Hawaii

Teddy Bear in an Outrigger Canoe - Kaneohe, Hawaii

You might get a glimpse of an off duty Santa walking in Waikiki! 

 

Santa at Waikiki

While in Waikiki you can visit the prize winning “Gingerbread Village” proudly displayed in a magnificent hotel.

Prizewinning Gingerbread Village

The Iolani Palace is lightly decorated with lanterns.

Iolani Palace with Christmas Lanterns

There are giant figures of Santa and Mrs. Claus cooling their feet in a fountain with Santa giving passersby a “shaka” sign.  The “shaka” is a clenched hand with the thumb and little finger extended. The shaka means “That’s cool, bro!”  or “Thanks for letting me enter traffic!” and a thousand other meanings.

Shaka Santa - Downtown Honolulu

 You can find an enormous Christmas tree surrounded by palm trees.

Downtown Honolulu Christmas Tree

A visit to the Punchbowl crater’s National Cemetery of the Pacific will give a solemn reminder of the price paid for freedom with the sad but beautiful rows of Christmas wreath decorated graves of our fallen heroes. 

National Cemetery of the Pacific - Punchbowl Crater

Finally, our spirits should be lifted by attending a concert featuring the Honolulu Boys Choir a well known, enthusiastic group of seven to twelve year old boys singing joyfully in celebration of the Christmas Season.  

It is the Choir's tradition that the boys always perform barefooted.

Barefooted Choristers

Honolulu Boys Choir

“Mele Kalikimaka” or Merry Christmas from Honolulu, Hawaii.