| Christmas in Hawaii this year is as festive | | | | side trip from Oahu to the Big Island is more |
| as ever, and some very well priced, holiday | | | | affordable than its been in a long time. |
| airfares can be found (at last check as low | | | | |
| as $300 from US West Coast). Whether your | | | | It's fun swapping tropical and white |
| vacation is budget or extravagant, you can | | | | Christmas stories with locals. For us |
| create some beautiful holiday memories on | | | | visitors it's especially fun to write home |
| Oahu. | | | | about how we spent our Christmas day on a |
| | | | beach! Some newcomers to Hawaii will even |
| Hawaiian Christmas memories are among my | | | | bring miniature trees down to the beach, |
| favorite remembrances of living in Hawaii. | | | | although Hawaii has plenty Christmas trees. |
| Listening to the children belt out their | | | | On Oahu,as on the other islands, trees from |
| favorites like "Here Comes Santa in a Red | | | | the mainland are sold. And, Hawaii has its |
| Canoe," and the Hawaiian version of "The 12 | | | | own Christmas tree: the island Norfolk Pine. |
| Days of Christmas," and hearing "Silent | | | | The tree doesn't have the spicy pine scent, |
| Night" sung in English and Hawaiian by an | | | | but its largely spaced branches are |
| angelic choir on a balmy evening under the | | | | wonderfully easy to decorate. |
| stars with palm trees swaying are experiences | | | | |
| not to be missed.Just walking downtown is a | | | | Hawaiian Christmas tree decorations are found |
| delight during the holidays. | | | | everywhere. Craft fairs are great for finding |
| | | | local style ones: coconut frond woven |
| And I'll never forget arriving at the | | | | ornaments, kukui nut and tapa cloth angels, |
| Honolulu Airport for the first time during | | | | Santas on surfboards in canoes and riding |
| the holiday season and being in awe of the | | | | dolphins; along with beautiful wreaths made |
| towering tree all decked out with huge, | | | | of island flowers and greenery. |
| lauhala woven pineapples and golden lights. | | | | |
| | | | Many of these craft fairs are events in |
| Holidays in Hawaii, especially Christmas are | | | | themselves, complete with Hawaiian Christmas |
| widely celebrated. This is a very churched | | | | entertainment and food. You'll find many of |
| community,but even many of the Buddhist | | | | these listed along with other holiday Oahu |
| families participate in Christmas traditions, | | | | events in newspapers and free magazines at |
| especially the Japanese-Americans who come | | | | the airport. |
| who have a reputation for loving to give | | | | |
| gifts. | | | | Some of my favorite Oahu events at Christmas |
| | | | are the light displays in Honolulu and the |
| If you're visiting the islands for the | | | | music - choirs, orchestras and local style |
| holidays, you will find a myriad of Christmas | | | | bands are found everywhere with free concerts |
| events on Oahu, actually on all the islands, | | | | at malls and on the beach. Adding to the |
| but more so on Oahu. | | | | holiday fun, many of Hawaii's most popular |
| | | | musicians like the Brothers Cazimero and Don |
| In Hawaii, Santa gives his reindeer a | | | | Ho perform regularly in Waikiki. |
| Christmas break and arrives in a canoe, | | | | |
| barefoot, tanned and with his red furry pants | | | | The Honolulu City Lights (the city was given |
| rolled up. On Oahu, his first stop is, as it | | | | permission by Keola and Kapono Beamer to use |
| is for most of Hawaii's visitors, Waikiki | | | | the name of their all time hit song) is a |
| Beach in Honolulu. Keiki (children) visit | | | | spectacular display throughout Honolulu, |
| their Hawaiian Santa at various cities on | | | | including Waikiki, making Oahu a good pick |
| Oahu throughout the season. | | | | for a Hawaiian holiday vacation. |
| | | | |
| While at Christmas time, many of the | | | | The month-long, traditional festivities begin |
| islanders enjoy watching the visitors in awe | | | | with the Kawaiahao Church Service in Honolulu |
| of this warm, friendly climate in the dead | | | | (This was the first Christian church built in |
| of winter, they also enjoy imagining what a | | | | Hawaii and is extraordinary), the lighting of |
| white Christmas would be like. You'll hear | | | | the City's 63-foot Norfolk Pine at Honolulu |
| many of the traditional mainland songs, like | | | | Hale (City Hall) and an electric parade and |
| "Winter Wonderland" and "Jingle Bells." | | | | concert on December 3; however festivities |
| | | | continue throughout the holiday season. |
| Some Hawaiians though do have a white | | | | |
| Christmas, that is if they're on the Big | | | | For example, the Honolulu City Lights Trolley |
| Island (island of Hawaii) and drive up above | | | | Tours run from December 8 to 30. The $2.50 |
| the tree line to the 10,000 foot high | | | | fare (under age 4 free) benefits the Hawaii |
| snowcapped peaks of Mauna Kea, transforming | | | | Food bank. For details, visit Honolulu Hale |
| their boogie boards into sleds and building | | | | If you go, be sure to check out the other |
| snowmen! With the current, cheap airfares | | | | Oahu event calendars mentioned above as well |
| from between Oahu and Neighbor Islands,a | | | | as this one's. |