An Island Mother’s Day

The perfumed scent of fresh puakeinikeini, pikake and ginger fill the air as chilled glass doors reveal strings of lei raining down, suspended in fragrant row after row, each person in search of the perfect lei. Frantic phone calls made too late, asking the hostess for 18 seats for a family celebration. A potluck at grandma’s house…mandoo, lumpia, potato salad, steamed onaga and chocolate haupia pie. Picnicking at Ala Moana Beach Park, hibachi’s smoking away under the trees, and Mom in her beach chair surrounded by grandchildren, her Hawaiian bracelets jingling as she moves. This is Mother’s Day island style.

On May 12, 1907, Anna Jarvis held a memorial service to honor her late mother and by1914, “Mother’s Day” as it was called, was declared a national holiday. In Hawaii, we carry on this American tradition of bestowing honor on Mom, but we celebrate with a decidedly island flavor, begining with the all important lei.

So, where to go and what kind of lei to buy? Everyone has favorites. Will it be an ilima or tuberose lei this year? Cindy’s Lei Shoppe or Lin’s Lei Shop? A Kamaaina’s brand preference is really more like undying allegiance, and is often passed down from generation to generation and is, many times, the result of local family connection—calabash cousins who own the shop, or grandma who used to sew lei there when she was young.

With a beautiful lei to wear, Mom will need somewhere to wear it. Although there are options for every budget and style, at this time of year, buffets and brunches are especially popular.

Here are a few choices to consider:

• Hakone, for a great Japanese buffet: Adults $49, Children $24.50
• The Willows, for traditional island style food and private party rooms  Adults $34.95, Children $17.50
• Sam Choy’s Breakfast Lunch and Crab, for a casual local style feast dinner buffet  Adults $35.95 Children $18.95
• Orchids at the Halekulani, for a pull-out-all-the-stops buffet Adults $52

Want more? Here are some other special events going on for Mother’s Day 2009:

• Mother’s Day Brunch with the Stars – JW Ihilani Marriott – Oahu
• Star of Honolulu Mother’s Day Cruise – Star of Honolulu – Oahu
• Na Leo Mother’s Day Sunset Concert – Hale Koa Hotel, Oahu
• Oceanarium Restaurant – Pacific Beach Hotel, Oahu – May 9th & 10th
• 48th Annual Mother’s Day Pancake Breakfast – Benjamin Parker Elementary School, Oahu
• The Contemporary Art Museum: Cades Pavilion Concert Series presents David Dondero, Oahu
• Sheraton Kauai Mother’s Day Brunch – Kauai – May 10th
• Kona Orchid Society Mother’s Day Show – Hale Halawai Pavillion – Kona – May 8th & 9th

Our friends at A Maui Blog provide a list of Mother’s Day events throughout the Valley Isle.

As Kamaaina and long time residents, we are likely to internalize our island traditions, from where we like to buy our lei to choosing the best places to eat, thinking nothing of our customs. Yet it is these subtle differences that make living in our island state unique—from island to island, from neighborhood to neighborhood, from ethnic group to ethnic group—Hawaii’s culture is indeed extraordinary.

Have you moved from Hawaii and continue your Mother’s Day traditions? Have you adopted and implemented a Hawaii tradition? And, most importantly what are your Mother’s Day traditions?

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