Hawaii Celebrations: New Years, Hawaii Style

Perhaps no other place in the world celebrates the new year as we do, here in Hawaii. Some aspects of our new year’s celebration are similar the world over; the family and friends that gather, the food, the children running around underfoot and even in some places in the world—fireworks. Somehow, what makes Hawaii’s new year unique is the mix of these elements, especially the fireworks.

Photo credit: Kundalini on Flickr

Here in Hawaii, we don’t just watch them overhead, but we “play fireworks” . Yes, here in Hawaii, the generations of Chinese immigrants who originally came here to work in the pineapple plantations continue to add their flavor to our island way of life. The fireworks that are part of their legacy, have been embraced by nearly everyone who lives here in the islands.

Children usually play with the safer items; sparklers, morning glories with their bright rainbow shave ice colored tissue paper and sparkly gold wrappings, along with pop-pops which make a loud pop-gun sound when thrown or stepped on.By the time locals here reach adulthood, the tradition is ingrained. Go to Daiei (which is now Don Quixote), stock up on every legal explosive possible, making sure to put the 10,000 firecracker roll into the cart. Once home, light the mosquito punks which tonight serves two purposes; keeping mosquitos at bay and lighting fireworks. Pop firecrackers until a thick blanket of smoke shields the driveway of our house so that the folding chairs set up in the garage can’t be seen from just 5 feet way. Before midnight, climb up the ladder and hang the 10,000 firecracker roll from the nail protruding from the rafter of the garage (set up years ago for that specific purpose). Then, when the clock hits midnight, light the roll. Young and old, everyone comes outside to watch and listen to the firecrackers—in a way, watching the old year burn up and welcoming in the new. Hugs all around, and “Happy New Year!” wishes to everyone. Without thought, the bright red firecracker paper that carpets the sidewalks and gutters gets swept up and discarded. Then, in some families, like mine, we go in and have a hot bowl of ozoni, a traditional Japanese new year food featuring a savory chicken broth, mizuna (a bitter green vegetable), chicken bits and mochi. Then it’s off to bed to ready ourselves for tomorrow’s potluck feast that awaits us all.

As we sleep, the smoke outside still lingers through the neighborhoods, lingering like the events of last year slowly fading to memory as a new year welcomes us. Happy New Year, one and all, from Hawaii Traditions!

How did you spend your new year?