Traditional Hawaiian Christmas

Makahiki a 100 indigenous tradition that predates even the arrival of christianity to the islands makahiki is a four month long celebration based on the lunar calendar.

Traditional hawaiian christmas. The first hawaiian christmas was held in 1786 when captain george dixon was docked on the island of kauai with the crew of his merchant ship the queen charlotte. However we enjoy fresh seafood and a number of ono local dishes too like kalua pork lomi lomi salmon ahi poke haupia and poi. Dec 23 2019 explore jennifer martel s board hawaiian christmas ideas recipes followed by 166 people on pinterest. While you obviously won t find snow or chilly weather unless you head to the summit of mauna kea we also celebrate christmas a little bit differently around here.

When it s time for something sweet this christmas many people who live in hawaii enjoy their haupia. The different cultures and ethnic groups that have settled in the islands celebrate the christmas traditions of hawaii in their own unique ways which may be religious or plainly secular. The staple and traditional filler starch dish in hawaiian cuisine is something known as poi. But any hawaiian will tell you that when you sit down on christmas day with a plate of this pig in front of you and take that first bite the wait and the effort are completely worth it.

It allows both people to exchange breath which is the supremely important life force in hawaiian understanding and also share scents and convey a closeness in relationship. The hawaiian islands are probably the last place to cross your mind when you imagine a traditional holiday season. Hawaiian history is full of legend and folklore. See more ideas about hawaiian christmas recipes hawaiian food.

The honi ihu or the touching of noses is a traditional method of greeting one another whether it s a man and woman two men or two women. But in the typical modern recipe diluted coconut milk sugar and salt is mixed with arrowroot or cornstarch and heated until thickened and smooth then poured into a. Some people even have a christmas luau which involves roasting a whole pig in an imu an underground oven. Haupia is a traditional coconut mil based hawaiian dessert which is served in gelatin type cubes.

The traditional hawaiian recipe called for heated coconut milk to be combined with pia polynesian arrowroot. Christmas cuisine the classic christmas main dish is usually a ham or turkey which holds true in hawaii. While coffee macadamia nuts hula skirts and polynesian tee shirts all represent hawaiian culture there are other gifts that showcase hawaiian legend and craftsmanship. Poi is a thick paste made from taro root similar to a yam or potato but with a starchy er flavor that is either steamed or baked and pounded.