7 unique Hawaiian Christmas traditions you won't find anywhere else
Posted by Maris on 7th Nov 2023
Some peculiar Hawaiian Christmas traditions have been influenced by the hot weather, sandy beaches, and indigenous culture. Many Hawaiians substitute palm trees for pine trees and snowmen for sandmen. Locals dress in shorts and Hawaiian shirts and eat sticky rice rather than potatoes. If your dream white Christmas involves a sandy beach and a tropical climate, you might love these seven Hawaiian Christmas traditions that distinguish the Aloha State.
There was Makahiki before Christmas.
Prior to Christianity, Hawaiians would observe the traditional Makahiki ritual. Based on the lunar calendar, the four-month-long festival celebrated the soil and the local god, Lono, by resting and eating. This period is now combined with Christmas, but the most significant aspect has not changed - food! Hawaiians eat anything from candy and fruitcake to poke, sashimi, and sushi, as well as traditional fare such as turkey.
Shipments of Christmas trees
Although the tropical island climate is unsuitable for growing lovely pine trees, many residents still want a gorgeous fir tree to hang decorations on. The Christmas tree ship has arrived. What began as a single ship per year has expanded to several ships that dock in early December, bringing refrigerated containers with real Christmas trees inside.
Hawaiians also enjoy decking out palm trees with Christmas lights to provide a festive touch to town.
Santa makes an appearance in an outrigger canoe.
The dolphins were pulled by Dasher and Dancer, Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid, Donner and Blitzen… Yes, it turns out that, like snow, reindeers are difficult to find in Hawaii. Locals get imaginative and send Santa in an outrigger canoe pushed by dolphins across the Pacific Ocean.
Families enjoy eating klua pig
Families and communities gather in their backyards or on the beach for a traditional luau or joyful feast. For Hawaiians, Christmas means eating on a klua pig. Klua is a traditional cooking practice that uses a "Imu" or underground oven. The pig is buried under heated rocks and banana leaves. After a long period of time and patience, the pig develops an amazing texture and flavor that the locals say is well worth the wait.
Carols are performed in Hawaiian.
Hawaiians play the ukulele or guitar and sing their own interpretations of traditional Christmas carols. Expect a luau or family feast to turn into a large sing-along with hula dance if it's sung in Hawaiian. Their version of the Twelve Days of Christmas is one of our favorites. More Hawaiian Christmas tunes can be found here.
Decorate the trucks with holly bells
Hawaiians enjoy decking out their automobiles and trucks with thousands of lights and parading them through the streets. People line the streets as cars pass by, blaring their horns and blasting carols. With the mild environment, Christmas is a time to be outside, making parades on any island easy to discover.
Greet as the locals do
Forget Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. On a lovely Hawaiian Christmas day, you should say Mele Kalikimaka. Say this to wish someone a joyful holiday season. Because Hawaiian languages did not have a "R" or a "S" in their speech, this is the literal equivalent of Merry Christmas. Do you need assistance pronouncing it? The word was popularized by Bing Crosby's classic Christmas cover.