Christmas in Hawaii facts for kids
Christmas in Hawaii is a big yearly celebration, just like in many other parts of the world. It's a time for family, fun, and unique island traditions!
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How Christmas Started in Hawaii
Christmas traditions came to Hawaii with Protestant missionaries after the year 1820. Many of the ways people celebrate Christmas today in Hawaii come from these early traditions.
Before Christmas, Hawaiians celebrated a festival called Makahiki. This festival lasted about four months! During Makahiki, all wars were forbidden. It was a time of "peace and goodwill," which is a lot like the spirit of Christmas we know today.
The very first Christmas recorded in Hawaii was in 1786. A ship captain named George Dixon was docked on the island of Kauai. He and his crew celebrated with a big Christmas dinner, including a whole roasted pig!
Later, in 1856, King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma of Hawaii officially celebrated Christmas as a day of Thanksgiving. Then, in 1858, a party at Washington Place featured the first Christmas tree and Santa Claus in Hawaii! King Kamehameha IV made Christmas an official holiday in 1862.
Christmas Celebrations Today
Today, Christmas in Hawaii is full of special events. The annual Honolulu City Lights ceremony is a big highlight. It features a huge 50-foot Norfolk pine Christmas tree. This tree is covered in bright lights and amazing decorations. You can also enjoy live music and entertainment.
Christmas Day traditions in Hawaii are similar to other places. Families often enjoy a large meal together. But since Hawaii has beautiful beaches, many people head to the water! You might see people surfing or swimming. Musical groups often play guitars and ukuleles, and dancers perform the hula on the beach.
You'll see people wearing Santa hats. Instead of a sleigh pulled by reindeer, Santa in Hawaii might arrive in an outrigger canoe pulled by dolphins! Different cultures and groups living in Hawaii celebrate Christmas in their own special ways. Some celebrations are religious, while others are just for fun. Even Santa Claus (called Kanakaloka in Hawaiian) wears flowery Hawaiian clothes instead of his usual red suit!
Christmas wreaths in Hawaii are often made from the beautiful poinsettia plant.
Mele Kalikimaka: Hawaiian for Merry Christmas
The phrase "Mele Kalikimaka" means "Merry Christmas" in Hawaiian. It's also the title of a famous Hawaiian-themed Christmas song. Robert Alex Anderson wrote this song in 1949.
The Hawaiian language doesn't have all the same sounds as English. For example, it doesn't have the "r" or "s" sounds. Also, Hawaiian words usually don't end with a consonant. Because of these differences, "Merry Christmas" became "Mele Kalikimaka."
There's also a more modern version of this song. The rock band The Beach Boys recorded a song called "Melekalikimaka" on their album Ultimate Christmas.
Christmas in Popular Culture
- Sjömansjul på Hawaii (a song about Hawaii at Christmastime)
