The Holidays are really upon us.  You can just tell by the way you have to cruise around the parking lot at Ala Moana for a bit before you find a spot.  Mainlanders might not notice it, but it's definitely cooler and I find myself looking forward to all that will come in the next month.

Like everything else, we do things a little different here in Honolulu compared to what we see families do on TV.  We still give gifts, and put up trees and pile our plates high with food and sweets, but still, we do it all in our own style.  For example, I participated in Black Friday this past Friday.  Sure I hit the mall for the deals (and boy did I get lucky on some things), but if you go, I figured out last year that I must do so knowing that I will be stopped every 15 feet by some aunty or long lost friend who I have seen in ages and must catch up with.  Now after my second year of this, it is officially tradition to hug people warmly and gush over my children among the crowds on the second floor of Ala Moana.

This month we'll be exploring the unique traditions and rituals we have when it comes to Christmas in Hawaii.  I can't speak for all families in Honolulu, especially because I came from a Korean family who did Korean things.  And it needs no mentioning that we live among so many different cultures that it may be hard to pinpoint a ONE way to do things.  So, most of the things I will be sharing you this month are traditions I've recently started since Noah was born, or things I hope will become a tradition for me as our family grows. 

Not surprisingly, some of my Korean childhood will get mixed in as we figure out ways to incorporate some of the more common things island families do.  For a place where snow has fallen only ONCE in my memory (way back in the mid 80s, there was some hail in Kailua...I promise it's the truth!), we sure do have a lot of Christmas joy!  

And, like I wrote, I may not know all the traditions there are to know because the culture I grew up with may limit me.  So, if there is any way that you celebrate that may make my Christmas a little merrier, please share.  I, and the rest of us, would love to hear your traditions for this wonderful time of year.