Holidays on the Islands – Honoring Both Ancient Hawaiian and Christmas Celebrations
As the autumn days grow shorter and winter inches closer, when much of the northern hemisphere will soon be snow-covered, it’s only natural to daydream about dashing away from the chilly days and spending the Hawaii holidays on a secluded beach. Even before Christmas as we know it arrived on the Big Island in the early 19th century – along with preaching the gospel to native Hawaiians, missionaries brought their Christmas traditions to the islands in 1820 – Hawaii had a timeless holiday tradition of its own, Makahiki.
Today, you’ll see a mix of the two traditions celebrated, honoring Hawaii holidays and their pastimes like luaus while ringing in the Christmas season with festive parades, palm trees wrapped in holiday lights, and live music shows featuring Hawaiian takes on Christmas classics.
Leave the snow behind and trade the hot cocoa for a chilled mai tai, and when you stay at our Big Island bed and breakfast, you’ll get a taste of the warmth of spirit and the unique way we celebrate the Hawaii holidays.
The Island Roots of Makahiki and Holiday Luaus
Throughout Hawaiian history, Makahiki has been the traditional sacred period from mid-November through late winter, taking place at the same time as Thanksgiving and Christmas. It’s always been a time to gather with loved ones, reflect on the abundance of food and prosperity, and honor the Hawaiian god Lono for rainfall (plentiful on our eastern side of the Big Island) and abundant crops.
Much like the tradition of feasting with our families on Thanksgiving, Hawaiians have always gathered during the Makahiki season for luaus, their version of a family feast. Hawaiians trade our baked turkey for the more island-appropriate kalua pig, slow-cooked in the time-honored way of roasting it in an underground pit covered by banana leaves, seasoned with just some sea salt. Around Thanksgiving and Christmas, it’s common for local Hawaiians to have family over and host backyard luaus, sharing in the aloha spirit with their ohana.
If you want to experience an authentic holiday luau, plan a day trip to the Fairmont Orchid. It’s a 90-mile drive across the island, but the volcanic sightseeing is epic along Saddle Road (lava was visible from the road during the most recent Mauna Loa eruption in late 2022). Their luau features the whole feast, from the delicious kalua pig to koi, poke, sweet potatoes, and all the Hawaiian side dishes you can imagine. And while you are feasting, you’ll be treated to live hula, drumming, fire-spinning, and an open bar.
Celebrating Hawaii Holidays in Volcano Village and Hilo, Big Island-Style
In the 1950s, Bing Crosby famously sang, “Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii’s way to say Merry Christmas.” You’ll hear that phrase often if you visit around the holidays, and Hawaiians put a unique twist on our classic Christmas traditions. Fir and pine trees are hard to come by on the islands, but instead, you’ll see palm trees wrapped in Christmas lights, waving in the gentle sea breeze rather than covered in snow like in most American front yards. If you’re visiting with kids around Christmas and they want to build a snowman, take them to our nearby black-sand beach and build a snowman out of volcanic black sand instead – it’ll be washed away by the waves rather than melt away.
Downtown Hilo – less than 30 miles from our location in Volcano Village – gets into the holiday spirit just after Thanksgiving, hosting its annual Christmas parade on November 25th, 2023. Starting at 6 p.m., the local community lines the streets as floats pass by, school marching bands play holiday tunes, and Hawaiian cowboys (known as “paniolos”) ride horses adorned in holiday decorations. Be sure to stop by the 808 Sweet Shack in Hilo, where you can try their haupia pie, a traditional coconut pudding and layered chocolate treat eaten during the Hawaii holidays. That same weekend, on Sunday, November 26th, award-winning Hawaiian musician John Cruz brings his “Island Style Holiday” performance to the Hilo Palace Theater with slack key guitar and uniquely Hawaiian versions of the classic holiday song repertoire.
If you visit over the holidays, it’s also an excellent time to explore Volcanoes National Park, open to visitors 24/7, even on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. It’s a busy time of year visitation-wise, but if you plan your park outings before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m., you’ll likely have more space and solitude on some of our favorite hikes, like the Kilauea Iki Trail. It’s also a great time to schedule a helicopter tour near Volcano Village from several flight tour operators. You’ll likely see snow on the peaks of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, a tiny glimpse of winter from afar. But when you’re back on the beach or snorkeling later that day, you’ll wonder why we don’t celebrate every holiday in paradise.
Stay with us, trade the white snow for white sand, and experience the island charm of Hawaii holidays!
