Marmalade Daydreams

At some point during my involuntary sequestration (i.e. writing final papers and grading final exams, which happily ended at 5 A.M. Saturday), much of Honolulu has caught Kalikimaka fever. No, Mom, no need to worry; though this is a tropical disease of sorts, it's no cause for alarm. As I'm sure you've figured out by the surrounding images, Mele Kalikimaka is the traditional Hawaiian Christmas greeting (hooray for invented traditions). On an exploratory foray down to the Ala Moana mall (former the world's largest) that ended in being adrift in a sea of teenage girls (more frightening than it sounds), I came across this giant barefoot Santa throwing the shaka (known on the mainland as the "hang loose" sign), and I knew I had to come back with my camera before hitting the road. Roadsideamerica.com had to hear of this one!


It wasn't until returning to this bizarre land of giant tropically themed Christmas decorations (interspersed with a nativity scene composed of strings of lights and the somewhat bizarre Jesus Bless America display pictured on the right) that I was told (by a guy working security) that inside the major building behind shaka Santa, there were more lights. Despite my recent discovery that I can upload videos to this blog, I do not feel the video of the interior of this building would be a suitable subject to portray here, dear readers. City Hall is filled with Christmas trees (and a rotating palm tree made from blue lights) sponsored by local government departments, local businesses, and mainland corporations. Christmas music blares. Groups of people, from multi-generational families to thug types with their skanky girlfriends, stumble through this simulated winter wonderland, photographing each other posing in the simulacrum of an illuminated pine forest in a government building in downtown Honolulu. A church group attempted to get me to attend Sunday services at their place of worship. Needless to say, the place bugged me out a bit.

[12/29 Postscript:] As I prepared to leave Hawaii for the first time since my arrival, I was worried about slipping immediately from tropical balminess to the arctic chill of a reportedly severe New York December, but I was pleased that the few days I spent in San Francisco en route served as a brief autumn. I felt the chill of night air, scuffled through the dead leaves lining the ground of the deciduous forest, and even saw some reddened maples stubbornly retaining their foliage through the solstice. With some semi-humorous misadventures, to be chronicled shortly, I've been very happy so far to be back East. Skiing and meals with family, spending time with old friends -- just being "home" -- has been really nice. I'm excited for the New Year's that I'm going to be spending with dear friends whom I do not see often enough. I feel blessed in this season. By the way, that reggae festival on the North Shore was incredible. It stopped raining the night before, and the sun dried up all of the mud into the perfect dancing surface. It was sunshiney all day, and the spot itself was incredibly beautiful and vivid. I'll relate anecdotes when I get the pictures from a friend.