Christmas in Hawaii is interesting.  The weather stays the same, you’re still in flip-flops and shorts, the waves are bigger than ever and the beaches are full of aloha.  No sweaters, cold temperatures, soups or snuggling up in a cozy blanket.  But this illusion of summer doesn’t stop the shopping center’s from going all out with wreaths and Christmas trees and playing Mele Kalikimaka in the breezways. It really is strange.  This year, we found ourselves struggling to get into the spirit, so we did everything we could to bring the season alive starting with…visiting Santa Clause.

And spending an evening at the Hawaii Kai Marina boat parade.

Each year this one street in Kaneohe is lit up with a ridiculous amount of Christmas lights, actually making up for the whole island’s lack of hanging Christmas lights.

No need to clean up the junk in the front yard…just decorate it!

Then came Christmas Eve.  In true Hawaii style, we had some friends over for grilling and pool time – it was a picture perfect day.

Meanwhile, Evan had received at least one package a day for about a week straight.  I would say we were in the spirit and ready for Evan’s first Christmas.

Our first Christmas as a family of three went something like: presents, church, food, Skype, more presents, friends, food, more presents and more Skype.  Better than anything we could have wished for!

In the midst of all these festivities, we managed to make a couple trips up to the North Shore to watch Kelly Slater and John John do their thing at the Triple Crown.  Awesome is an understatement.

Thank you, Hawaii, for another memorable Christmas season.