November 30th, 2007

You’ve probably heard the tune with Mele Kalikimaka during the Christmas song playing stint that now starts at Thanksgiving. It’s a beautiful song but what’s even more beautiful is spending Christmas with loved ones on the Hawaiian Islands. A Christmas Hawaiian vacation will be remembered for years or may even start a tradition. Check out HawaiianBeachRentals.com to find that special home to rent for a brilliant family Christmas. Things are pretty much the same but also very different. Santa is still dressed in a red suit and is a jolly bearded fellow but he uses an outrigger for his transportation instead of a sleigh. The food is a bit different but still colorful like Christmas. The Hawaiians had a celebration during this time of the year prior to the Europeans bringing Christianity to the islands. They honored the earth for giving them plenty to eat. They called this 4 month long feasting and resting period Makahiki. During this time there were no wars or conflicts. Once Christianity came to the islands they adapted some of their traditions of Makahiki to the celebration of Christmas. Other cultures added some of their own twists to the celebration and that is what Christmas offers those who visit at this special time of the year. You’ll find sushi, lumpia, tamales, manapua, poke and coconut pudding on the tables instead of ham or turkey. Of course you can find the traditional foods but why try something different this year? If you’re lucky you might get invited to a lu’au for Christmas dinner complete with a roasted pig cooked in an underground pit called an imu. For those who need snow on Christmas, you can find that on the mountain tops of a couple of the islands. The really cool thing about Hawaii is that you can then go down the mountain and go for a swim in the ocean or a ride on the surf board. Whatever you end up doing during your Christmas vacation in Hawaii, enjoy. Aloha!