Spending Christmas in Hawaii can feel oddly familiar.  Don’t expect to be limited to your own beachside entertainment; Hawaiians know how to celebrate Christmas with tropical flare.  Before you hop on a plane, learn about little more about the history and traditions of Christmas in Hawaii.  Your Christmas vacation in Hawaii will provide you with memories that will last a lifetime, so be sure to soak up all the local culture. Christmas was introduced to the Hawaiians by the Europeans, so as Hawaiians embraced Christianity it was natural that some of their traditions were incorporated into Christmas celebrations.  Because many other cultures have come to Hawaii since then, you will find pieces of all these cultures in the celebrations.  It is typical, for example, to find sushi and tamales alongside the turkey and stuffing at a Hawaiian Christmas dinner.  Likewise, you may find yourself at a Christmas Luau instead.  Embrace the variety of culture during your Christmas vacation in Hawaii, and try as many different means of celebration as you can.

The Tradition of Hawaiian Santa

During your Christmas vacation in Hawaii, don’t expect Santa to make his deliveries by sleigh.  Because only the highest mountains in Hawaii see any snow, Santa is know by Hawaiians to travel by a red canoe.  Like his sleigh, Santa’s red canoe is also magic and delivers him without fail to the beaches of Hawaii.  Many people have often speculated as to how Santa and his reindeer can get everywhere they need to be on Christmas Eve, and know you know his secret.  The reindeer get to rest peacefully in California while Santa canoes to Hawaii and back.

Christmas Trees & Christmas Carrols

Don’t worry; your Christmas vacation in Hawaii won’t be without a Christmas tree.  In fact, you’ll have many more varieties of Christmas trees than you would if you stayed in the continental United States.  Hawaiians do receive shipments of traditional fir Christmas trees every year, but you will also find decorated palm trees.  But even on the decorated fir trees, you’ll see some hints of Hawaii in golden pineapple ornaments, etc.
Make sure you learn all the localized versions of your favorite carols before hitting the beaches on your Christmas vacation in Hawaii. You won’t want to be caught singing the continental versions of The Twelve Days of Christmas or Twas the Night before Christmas.  Santa’s lesser known red canoe lends these songs to a few minor tweaks.

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