Holidays - Hawaiian Style
The most celebrated holidays in Hawaii are Christmas and New Year's Eve. I was surprised my first year living in Hawaii to find while fireworks were scarce at Fourth of July, we found entire sections in supermarkets devoted to fireworks at Christmas time for New Year's Eve celebrations.
Christmas and New Year's in Hawaii are wonderful examples of how Hawaii's holidays reflect and celebrate the many cultures that are shared here. The Chinese brought us the exciting New Year's Eve fireworks, but other multi-cultural traditions are shared on this holiday too – the not so much fun one of cleaning windows for the New Year's (Portuguese), and the delicious mochi, a sweet snack made from rice for New Year's Day (Japanese).
And at Christmas time, the tradition of gift giving is shared by most, Buddhists and Christians alike. The Hawaii Christmas tree, the Norfolk Pine, is easy to decorate with its wide spaces between the branch, but most locals prefer the fragrant Douglas Firs that are shipped in and sold in big box store parking lots just like on the mainland.
You can find many Hawaiian style ornaments from fancy, glass baubles with sand and shells sold in upscale department stores, to hand-made Santa's in canoes and coconut woven ornaments found at the numerous Christmas Craft Fairs (I'd never seen so many of these fairs till I moved to Hilo!)
Below you will find a list of official national and state holidays observed in Hawaii. Many more special days are honored in Hawaii, such as Lei Day (May 1st) and, from Japanese origins, Boys Day and Girls Day. These last two days are often celebrated in elementary schools by doing favors for each other. For example, on Boys Day, the girls will straighten the boys' desks and chairs at the end of the day, and on Girls Day, the boys will do the same for the girls.
Tip: By using the Hawaii Events Calendar (linked in my navigation menu) you can search for the dates around these holidays and see what events are sceduled. You can use this calendar to search by island as well. For example, if you select the Special Events category for Oahu for the month of December, you'll see when and where the Honolulu City Lights Christmas events take place.
Public Holidays in Hawaii
Christmas Day 
December 25, 2006
December 25, 2006New Year's Day January 1, 2007
January 1, 2007Martin Luther King, Jr. Day January 15, 2007
President's Day February 19, 2007
February 19, 2007Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana`ole Day March 26, 2007
Good Friday April 6, 2007
April 6, 2007Easter Sunday April 8, 2007
Memorial Day May 28, 2007
King Kamehameha Day June 11, 2007
Independence Day July 4, 2007
July 4, 2007Statehood Day August 17, 2007
August 17, 2007Labour Day September 3, 2007
September 3, 2007Columbus Day October 8, 2007
October 8, 2007*Veterans Day November 11, 2007
November 11, 2007Thanksgiving Day November 22, 2007
November 22, 2007Christmas Day December 25, 2007
December 25, 2007*Holidays falling on Saturday or Sunday are taken on the following Monday.
For free Hawaii travel tips and CoconutRoads.com updates (new photos, articles, contests and other goodies) delivered from Hawaii to your inbox, here's Da Scoop !
