Home to Hawaii for the Holidays

By Lauren Shigemasa, I like to go see the Christmas lights display that they put up in downtown Honolulu.

The holidays are upon us again. I'm not a huge fan of the whole changing of the seasons, or the commercial buzz, but I do love the "seasonality" that comes with holidays.

You see it at the grocery store, in the malls and even around campus. Decorations are put up, holiday events are planned and announced and the local cafés always serve some kind of specialty drinks sold only during this time of year (I am in love with the gingerbread latte).

And when I return home to Hawaii during winter break, I also find Christmas spirit in the air. Even though the weather is a consistent 70-80 degrees year-round, the Christmas decorations go up.

There are so many things I enjoy about being home for the holidays. I like to go see the Christmas lights display that they put up in downtown Honolulu. My parents bake their famous chocolate-chip nut cookies that are reserved for special occasions like Christmas, and we give them away to family, friends and co-workers.

My whole family goes to pick up a Christmas tree from the nearest supermarket parking lot, and then we get a wreath. Sometimes Poinsettia flowers will make an appearance in our house too.

My mom will bust out the red and green tablecloths, placemats and matching Christmas tree skirt while my sister and I decorate the Christmas tree with an assortment of ornaments and handmade stars and snowflakes from elementary school.

Finally, there is Christmas Eve. My mom can be found in the kitchen early in the morning, cooking and baking to prepare for our family parties, as my sister and I try to help her as best we can.

Some of the people at these parties are blood-relatives and some are referred to as "calabash" — non-relatives who are close enough to be considered family.

All the festivities aside, I enjoy the holidays the most because I get to be with my family. Getting to catch up with all my relatives and friends in Hawaii is what I look forward to most.

Being with family during this time of the year is definitely the heart and soul of what the holidays should be centered around. I may not have the luxury of going home every weekend, but that makes me appreciate it so much more when I finally do get to see them after 10 long weeks of fall quarter. It makes the holidays, as well as going home, that much sweeter.

Lauren Shigemasa is a sophomore marketing and communication major.