Diamond Head
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.
Also every year, on Christmas Eve, Hula’s presents “Hunky Santa,” a photo op-
portunity to sit on a handsome Santa. All proceeds go to charity.
Just further down Waikiki proper lies Queen’s Surf Beach, named after the last
Hawaiian monarch, Queen Lilioukalani, and where her beach home once sat.
Nowadays it’s aptly named as sunkissed gays lounge on the sands of the beach
or on the adjacent lawn of Kuhio Beach Park, or as they wade in the mild surf of
Queen’s.
Occasionally it is also the setting for “Sunset On The Beach,” an outdoor screen-
ing of a major motion picture that’s free for the public. The movie itself is second-
ary compared to relaxing on the beach at night underneath the Polynesian stars
while feeling the residue warmth of the sand from the afternoon heat.
Curious about how locals celebrate the holidays? Then attend a Christmas
show (December 12-14) by legendary Hawaiian musicians The Brothers Cazim-
ero at the historic Hawaii Theatre in downtown Honolulu. This year’s performance
promises to be infectiously joyful with performances by the all-male hula group
(led by Robert Cazimero) Halau Na Kamalei, the lovely ladies from the Royal Dance
Company and pre-eminent hula dancer, Ms. Leinaala Heine as well as special
appearances by the keiki (child) winners of the Lilioukalani Keiki Hula Festival.
Tickets start at $30.
There’s so much more to cover. North Shore waves go as high as 30-feet as pro-
surfers from California, South Africa, Australia, and around the world compete for
the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing.
Humpback Whale migration can be seen from shore, especially at the Makapuu
Lighthouse in East Honolulu.
If you stay through the New Year, firework shows flare at Aloha Tower Mar-
ketplace in Honolulu Harbor, at Ala Moana Beach Park, and over Waikiki Beach.
Neighborhoods also fog up with smoky wonder as families light firecrackers on
the streets.
You can also follow the favorite places of United States President-Elect Barack
Obama and his family when they visit his hometown, such as eating shave ice
(snow cone) from Island Snow Hawaii in the windward town of Kailua.
In this rapidly changing world, the constant is Hawaii’s holiday traditions and
culture, celebrated with much aloha (love) that easily transcends to the island’s
visitors, beckoning them to keep coming back for more.
DECEMBER 2008 | RAGE monthly 87
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