"Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say,

On a bright Hawaiian Christmas Day,
That's the island greeting that we send to you
From the land where palm trees sway,
Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright,
The sun to shine by day and all the stars at night,
Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii's way ,
To say "Merry Christmas to you."

I also like this one...

Christmas Day in Hawaii Nei
Louis R. Kauakahi

Clear blue skies, pristine seas,
Swaying palms in the tropical breeze
On Christmas Day in Hawai'i Nei.

...

Children's faces all aglow,
Liquid sunshine in place of snow,
On Christmas Day in Hawai'i Nei.
        ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

What a beautiful Christmas morning view...

We weren't doing Christmas gifts this year as our trip was our gift collectively. We did however, have an impromptu "card exchange" with a few small "Santa" aka Mom gifts. Here we are Christmas morning...the classic pj's on and no hair combed Christmas morning picture...

Christmas morning fruit spread...

My uncle and brother had set a noon tee time on the Kona Country Club golf course that our condo was on...off they go...

 Mom, Dad and I headed over to the pool while they were golfing. This is the view looking back at the condos from one of the pools...

 Ah, the sun is amazing...

 Merry Christmas!!

View from the pool. I believe that's the 12th hole. Our condo overlooked the 10th hole and the fairway for the 17th hole (I think...).

I tried to ease into the water...I finally gave up and just jumped in...

What a rough way to spend Christmas Day. I could do this again. In fact, I could do this every day.

Our condo lanai is the one right in the middle with the towel hanging over the railing. The loft of the condo is where the windows are above the lanai, also.

Josh putting...

 Uncle Ron putting...

The golfing guys...

It had started to sprinkle about a half hour before they finished, so Mom and I hopped in the car and went to get them so they wouldn't need to walk back in the sprinkle. Not that they would have minded, but it also gave us a chance to see up close an Angel Trumpet flower (which I've seen up close many times, but Mom hadn't) and they are cool flowers.

Golf course map....

The guys coming out. Success on getting in a game on a Hawaii golf course.

After the guys got done we headed to the Royal Kona Resort for the Luau I'd made reservations for as our Christmas dinner/entertainment. It was still rainy. 

After standing in line for a while and getting wet Josh and Uncle Ron went and got some rain ponchos...it was a laughable adventure to get them on. They kept sticking to us since we were already wet. People around us in line were even laughing with us.

Once we got to the front of the line we had the opportunity to bump our reservations to the next day since it was raining and since I hadn't paid yet. We opted (even though Uncle Ron would be leaving before the Luau) to postpone it to the next night. But, we couldn't escape without a group picture with the camera being propped somewhere in the car-Josh's creative doing.

Candid accident picture! 

 We diverted to another restaurant for Christmas dinner. It was nice for those of us that wanted a traditional Christmas dinner. They had ham and turkey and all the fixings. I had Island Chicken-it was good. I also ate the inside of a Macadamia Nut Pie. Oh.My.Goodness. Can I please have some more. I am not a pecan pie fan, but that is the closest resemblance that I can say it was like. It tasted amazing. Amazing I tell you. I'm looking up a recipe as I type this...for future reference.

When we got home I had to take a picture...Christmas day, 7pm, 70 degrees and it had been raining. Delightful.


Uncle Ron was king of the loft.

Overall, I'd say it was a successful Christmas. And laughter is always a good thing. As well is the hot tub on Christmas night.

"Let's have an island Christmas this year..." Michael Franks lyrics from "Island Christmas"

Merry Christmas Eve from Hawaii! I can't even begin to tell you how amazing Christmas in paradise is. Yes, it doesn't "feel" like Christmas, but I sure think I could get used to this amazing weather. Shorts, skirts, tank tops and flip flops (and swimsuits in outdoor pools) in December...pretty much amazing. After spending two days doing a lot of driving and spending a lot of time in the car on the road we were ready to not be in the car. The guys decided they'd dedicate their Christmas Eve to spending time at the pool. Because there aren't many "beaches" in Kona, we spent time at the pool and in the hot tub rather than on the beach. It was close and convenient...and there were three to pick from in the condo complex.

Pops and Josh above and Uncle Ron below...they all got sunburned...

 Meanwhile, Mom and I went to the hub of Kona to do some shopping and just hanging out. It was this day that I ate the most amazing Coconut Cream ice cream at a coffee shop that I still crave. My mouth waters when I think about it.

While we were enjoying the sun and our ice cream we noticed this little island off the coast. Not sure what the structure is, but it was cute.

 Totem...

 Palm trees are wonderful. I like them.

 Bananas on a tree.

 Mom and Me~~

 Mom wanted to get some shaved ice and while she was eating it I noticed these parrots in the tree above us...just wild parrots, hanging out. We went back later so Josh could see them, but they weren't in the tree that time.

 I love that I was wearing what I was in December. I'd be an icicle if I'd worn this in Portland or Casper on Christmas Eve.

 Neither of us has ever owned Crocs, but we had to take a picture with the Croc people...they were just that creepy.

 On the drive home we stopped at a scenic point and  could here some hissing...it was this mongoose...actually, there was more than one...mongeese?! Mongooses?! They were ugly and agngry little devils, regardless.

Christmas Eve Pineapple for Natalie.

 It sure was yummy...

Christmas Eve Dinner! Mom and I had stopped at Safeway and at Target (our 5th Target trip I do believe) and picked up broccoli, Rib Eye steaks and olives to go with our pineapple and Hawaiian potatoes from the farmers market in Hilo (they were a different texture and taste than our normal potatoes...Josh and I likened them to the taste of plantains--I really liked them) and then Josh and I went to the other grocery store for some sparkling apple cider. It was a delicious Christmas Eve dinner and in such a beautiful setting.

 Nice looking group, aren't we?!

And, a nice Christmas Eve sunset!!

Mom, Dad and I went to Mokuaikaua Church, the oldest church in the islands for Christmas Eve Service. It was the most amazing Christmas Eve Service I will probably ever experience.

The gate area...see a later post for pictures of the church during daylight hours.

We got there early, but not early enough. Seating on the main level was full, and our options for seating were the second floor balcony or (I still can't get over this...) outdoors. They were broadcasting the service on screens in both locations. We opted for the balcony. I'm glad we did.

 Candlelight segment from above...we couldn't have candles in the balcony due to fire codes. I didn't mind.

 There were a few hula dances. Hula on Christmas Eve at church...it was very beautiful.

Here is a video of the Hula dancers dancing to Silent Night. I could've watched them all night long. It was so beautiful.

Right?! Best Christmas Eve Service ever...I'm sorry if you are jealous.

Sign on the way out. There was also a palace across the street...I never did get a picture of it, but it was pretty.

On the way to the church we'd seen these Palms lit up with Christmas lights and had to stop on the way home to get a picture...none of the pictures are great, but I loved that I really did see palms lit up light this for Christmas. I don't envy the person who had to get up there to put them up...I appreciate their efforts.

This was the view we had coming home every night...

And this was the complex Christmas tree. I was amazed by all the outdoor Christmas trees. Fun to see.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!