Monday, January 02, 2012

Lovin' the Aloha State

Yes, the Budman and I are probably some of the last people I know to get to Hawaii...better late than never.

After a quick stop in Dallas for a pre Christmas visit with the family, we headed off to Oahu on Christmas Day. Mele Kalikimaka!!!

Translation: Mele Kalikimaka - Merry Christmas. The words "Mele Kalikimaka" are a phonetic translation. When the missionaries and other Westerners first brought the custom of Christmas to the islands the Hawaiians had difficulty pronouncing Merry Christmas and turned it into words that rolled more easily off their tongues. Of course, I already knew this thanks to Bing's Christma song, Mele Kalikimaka. Sad but true.

New Year's finds us in Maui - Hau'oli Makahiki Hou - Happy New Year. The western Christmas and New Year fell during this same time of the year that the Hawaiians traditionally honored the earth for giving them plenty to eat. This period of resting and feasting was called Makahiki (mah-kah-HEE- kee). It lasted for 4 months, and no wars or conflicts were allowed during this time. Because makahiki also means "year", the Hawaiian phrase for "Happy New Year" became "Hau'oli (happy) Makahiki (year) Hou (new)"(how-OH-lee mah-kah-hee-kee ho).

Catch you on the on the flip side of Hawaii.