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