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.
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| Decorated Boat - Kaneohe, Hawaii |
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| Teddy Bear in an Outrigger Canoe - Kaneohe, Hawaii |
You might get a glimpse of an off duty Santa walking in Waikiki!
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| Santa at Waikiki |
While in Waikiki you can visit the prize winning “Gingerbread Village” proudly displayed in a magnificent hotel.
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| Prizewinning Gingerbread Village |
The Iolani Palace is lightly decorated with lanterns.
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| 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.
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| Shaka Santa - Downtown Honolulu |
You can find an enormous Christmas tree surrounded by palm trees.
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| 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.
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| 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.
It is the Choir's tradition that the boys always perform barefooted.
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| Barefooted Choristers |
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| Honolulu Boys Choir |
“Mele Kalikimaka” or Merry Christmas from Honolulu, Hawaii.
Second try at this.
ReplyDeleteA nice 'behind the touristy images' look at the State. Keep it up, all year long.
Did you get a lot of updates on the Obamas vacationing there?