When people from the mainland think of the holiday season, they think of autumn leaves falling from trees, snow covered hills and holiday sweaters, but here in Hawaii, the views are a little different. We think of our sky blue oceans, white sandy beaches and lush palm trees. But even if the geography views of the holiday season don’t match the ‘traditional’ idea, there’s one notion that does, and that is `ohana.
Spending time with our families is the most important thing during the holidays, and we are highlighting 3 ways to celebrate the holidays… Hawaiian style.
1. Celebrate Veterans
A big part of the holidays is about giving thanks, and what better way to do that than by attending the 9th Annual Hawai’i Island Veterans Day Parade. The event has turned into one of Hawaii’s largest Veterans Day parades and is a great way to show support to those who give so much.
2. Celebrate Ancestry
Again, the holidays are about ‘ohana, and our ancestry is an important part of that. The Hula O Nā Keiki is a children’s solo hula competition where we can watch youth take on the art that has been passed down for generations. This is a great event to make part of your annual holiday traditions and perhaps have your child enter!
3. Celebrate Tradition
The ability to have a traditional Christmas tree on the islands has only been available since the 1960s. Grand firs and other types of evergreens are not native to Hawaii, and so they must be sent over on refrigerated cargo ships. Don’t let the reality of how the trees arrive to our islands take away from the magic of picking one out! Make it an annual tradition to select your tree and decorate it with the family.
The holiday season is full of love, tradition and ‘ohana. All of which brings a smile to our faces. We’d love to hear about events you plan on attending this holiday season. Is it an annual tradition? Tell us in the comment and maybe we’ll share it with our community!
