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Posts Tagged ‘Kauai’

Everybody loves Christmas. Everybody loves Hawaii. It’s only natural that combining the two makes for one super holiday! People from every corner of the world come to Hawaii during the Christmas season to enjoy some of the best of what the islands have to offer.

We’ll let you in on a little secret. While we all know Christmas isn’t a Hawaiian holiday, over the years the holiday has gained a unique island feel. The familiar – Christmas trees, colorful lights and festive holiday parades – blend with Hawaiian cultural traditions to create something special. It’s Christmas in the Spirit of Aloha and it’s something you can experience every year as a Hawaii real estate owner.

To celebrate Christmas in Hawaii this year, we’ve put together a special list of what we consider to be the top 10 best things about spending the holiday in the islands:

1. Hawaiian Christmas Songs. Music is part of the holiday and this is no exception in Hawaii. The Hawaiian language is beautiful and flowing – perfect for festive caroling. Perhaps the most famous is Mele Kalikimaka (made famous by Bing Crosby in the 1950s and, more recently, in the film National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation). There are many others!
2. Santa Arrives… By Canoe? That’s right! Every year in early December, Hawaii celebrates the holiday season as Santa arrives on the shores of Waikiki Beach on his very own outrigger canoe. The event is hosted by the Outrigger Waikiki Hotel and is free to the public. Kids can even get some face time with the jolly old elf upon arrival!
3. Lighted Boat Parades. Two parades typically light up the waters around Oahu each year during the Christmas season. The Honolulu Christmas Boat Parade tours around Honolulu Harbor and can be viewed from the Aloha Tower Marketplace and various other spots on the Honolulu waterfront. The Hawaii Kai Christmas Boat Parade usually attracts thousands who watch as about 40 boats – all litup for Christmas – float lazily through theHawaii Kai waters.
   

   Merry Christmas in Hawaiian! (Photo courtesy of Flickr user "billsoPHOTO")

4. The Nutcracker Ballet. Hawaii enjoys some of the more traditional Christmas celebrations, too. Performances of the famous Nutcracker Ballet happen all over the state during the Christmas season.
5. Lahaina Gets Lit Up. Maui celebrates Christmas by covering the historic Lahaina Banyan Tree in lights each Christmas season. Residents and visitors celebrate the annual tradition with a ceremony featuring Christmas carols, a Hula exhibition and an appearance by St. Nick for the kids!
6. Honolulu is Illuminated. Every year around Christmas time, thousands on Oahu gather outside Honolulu Hale – the name give to the mayor’s office – to watch as the massive 50-plus foot Christmas tree is lit for the first time. The event is called Honolulu City Lights and marks the beginning of a month-long Christmas festival in and around Honolulu Hale. The lighting ceremony is accompanied by the Electric Light Parade.
7. Kauai Blazes Brightly! Residents of the Garden Island celebrate Christmas with their own illuminated celebration. The Kauai Festival of Lights officially marks the arrival of Christmas to the island. The event has its origins more than 50 years ago with “Auntie” Josie Chansky, a local folk artist who opened her home each Christmas to share thousands of the homemade Christmas decorations she had made throughout her life. Her home became knownas The Christmas House among locals. The festival, which began in 1996, carries on the tradition by preserving Chansky’s wonderful collection for all to see.
8. Football. The Sheraton Hawaii Bowl has become a beloved holiday tradition in the islands. The football game takes place every day on Christmas Eve at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. Besides being a nationally important BCS bowl game, it is a chance for Hawaii residents to support the University of Hawaii in their much anticipated annual contest. This year UH will host the University of Tulsa.
9. Christmas Trees. Having a Christmas tree in your home during the holiday season is a beloved tradition that isn’t missed in Hawaii. Boatloads of the fragrant conifers are shipped to the islands from colder regions of the world so the people of Hawaii can enjoy the comfort and coziness of a Christmas tree in the living room.
10. Christmas on the Beach. Christmas morning in Hawaii starts out much the same as anywhere else in the world. Gifts are opened and brunch is served. That’s when things start to change. Late December in the islands is much the same as mid-July – that is to say, snow and freezing temperatures are not a concern. Many Hawaii residents head down to the beach after gifts have been opened to enjoy Christmas afternoon in the sun, sand and salt water.

Now it’s obvious that Christmas in Hawaii is an experience second-to-none. Moving to Hawaii is the next step to making this wonderful tradition part of your life. Best of Hawaii Real Estate will connect you to the best Hawaii REALTOR who will help make your dreams come true.

Kauai is a place where the green lifestyle is as literal as it is figurative. The Garden Island is a place of water; frequent showers cause waterfalls to appear out of nowhere. Water brings uninhibited life – a theme of Kauai and its people, and one that affects many of the sustainable lifestyle choices made every day by the residents of The Garden Island.

If you’re moving to Hawaii in search of a green island lifestyle, look no further than Kauai real estate. Although small on a map, Kauai has a wealth of land owned by local ranchers and farmers who produce some of the greenest foods known to man. Grass-fed cattle and wholesome seasonal fruits and veggies are available at many restaurants and local markets. Look for stickers on beef that indicate a local product (if you see a Princeville Pride sticker, it means the product comes from the Princeville Ranch on the North Shore).

Fishing is a huge industry on Kauai. Some of the freshest sustainably caught seafood can be had without hurting your wallet. Many fish markets are peppered around the island so you can be sure there’s one nearby your work or your little piece of island real estate.

Grass-fed beef, local fresh fish and island-grown produce can be found at some of these local favorites:

• North Shore: Foodland, Hanalei Dolphin, Kilauea Fish Market, Papaya’s, The Hanalei Gourmet and Princeville Shell Gas Station (don’t be scared away by the pumps!)
• East Side: Wailua Country Store, Pono Market, Kojima’s, Fish Express, Windward Market, Ara’s Sakana-ya & Hukilau Lanai
• South Side: Sueoka’s, Koloa Fish Market, Shells Restaurant at the Sheraton Kauai Resort and Merriman’s (look for beef from A’akukui Ranch, located just eight miles from Poipu)
• West Side: Barefoot Burgers, Big Save, Kauai Coffee, Hanapepe Sunshine Market and Hanapepe Café

The green lifestyle is alive and well on Kauai. Planning to retire in Hawaii? Kauai is one of the best places to retire! Looking to raise your family here? Look no further! Trying to find life’s next big adventure? Kauai has it all and Best of Hawaii real estate will connect you to the best Hawaii REALTOR to guide you to the greenest real estate on Kauai. Each Hawaii REALTOR in our system has been ranked according to their specific areas of expertise, and you can be sure we have the ideal agent for you. Our free Hawaii REALTOR matching service will connect you with an agent who will help you achieve a green lifestyle in Hawaii.