Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Mele Kalikimaka


December 24, 1957 -  I was 9 years old.


It was the night before Christmas and that was the year I discovered the truth about Santa -


he is REAL.


How did I know this?


My father worked for the railroad and he was away so my mother took my sister and me to her cousin's house for a family dinner.


We returned to our house about 11:30 that night and when we walked into the living room, we could see that Santa had already been to our house.


I went to bed that night assured that Santa really did exist - otherwise, how could all those gifts be under the tree.


Christmas morning was wonderful - my sister and I received a record player and several LP's - all Christmas music.


There was a Bing Crosby "White Christmas" album.


But, my favorite was "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" by a group of Warner Bros. Stars - it made the list of the Top 25 WORST Christmas album covers of all time!


Clint Walker sang "Silver Bells".


Peter Brown sang, "Winter Wonderland"


and Poncie Ponce sang "Mele Kalikimaka".


Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I would ever spend Christmas in "the land where palm trees sway".


This Christmas is definitely green and bright.


The sun shines by day, but we have seen no stars at night - they're obscured by rain.


Today we caught a rainbow as we walked along Hanalei Bay


and also a snow, or rather a sand man.


It is a JOY to have our family together, on a beautiful island, creating memories.


As I learned 58 years ago when Santa left Christmas albums beneath my tree,


is Hawaii's way to say "Merry Christmas" to you.

54 comments:

  1. How beautiful to spend Christmas in Hawaii!! I'm sure you will have an amazing holiday :-) Merry Christmas to you and family. xo Silvana

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  2. I feel very familiar with the record player. Beautiful photos of Hawaii. Have a wonderful Christmas together.

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  3. Wow, you guys are already there creating more family memories.

    Love, hugs, peace and joy and have a Merry Christmas.

    FlowerLady

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  4. What a fun post ! Merry Christmas to you and your family and I love the sandman-snowman! :)

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  5. Fabulous.

    I am enjoying this poetic journey down your Christmas lane, my dear Carol. You took me back to those days of small record players (all the rage for us kids) that came with records of gentle music (in comparison to some of today's tunes!) - and the fact that Santa DOES exist. It's all what we create, and that is our goal isn't it, to create what we wish existed? You are for sure making a memorable holiday, and who's to say that Christmas has to be WHITE? I love this sandman that represents the land where people live and celebrate with what they have. Christmas: a time of light and merry-memory-making.

    HUGS!

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  6. Merry Merry Christmas love Ria ❤️❤️❤️

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  7. Oh wow! Christmas in Hawaii? How wonderful. Have a great time with your family. Merry Christmas!

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  8. Enjoyed your tour of the beaches and a memory of the music from Christmas past!

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  9. Hope you enjoy your wonderful holiday vacation. Merry Christmas! I'm sure it will be magical in such a beautiful place!

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  10. What gorgeous photos! I love Christmas music too. Right now my favorite album is She and Him, sort of has a vintage sound. Merry Chistmas! Xo

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  11. I loved reading this post and now I have an "ear worm" for the day - LOL!

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  12. What wonderful photos :) Love the sand snowman. We wont be having a white Christmas here this year and I'm sad. Instead we are having rain. Enjoy your vaca.

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  13. Merry Christmas! Thanks for sharing and enjoy your beautiful family.

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  14. I know you are having a wonderful time! Soak it up. :)

    Merry Christmas.

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  15. What a wonderful little story Carol. I'm so happy when I think of all of you there together in that tropical paradise. What a special Christmas...
    Merry Christmas to you and thank you for being such a caring friend.
    xo
    Leslie

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  16. Carol, I loved reading this post. It just made me smile. I am so happy you are with the ones you love . Mele Kalikimaka is the wise way to say Merry Christmas ,on a bright Hawaiian Christmas day. :):) My girls have played that record for many years and sang that song. Thank you for the memory. Blessings to all, xoxo,Susie

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  17. What an enjoyable, memorable post about your childhood Christmas - and now celebrating with sun and palm trees! Hope you are having a wonderful time...happy and blessed Christmas to all of you.

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  18. How beautiful Carol! I just love this precious story! Hawaii is just gorgeous and I am happy to hear you are enjoying Christmas there with your family. Blessings to you my friend!

    Hugs, Vicky

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  19. Love this post and your childhood memories. Merry Christmas to you and your family, Carol. Enjoy your time in the land where palm trees sway. You know I have that song stuck in my head now.

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  20. Lovely post. I love the sand/snow man. I knew Santa was real, when I was about 8 and the whole family went out to join the neighborhood Christmas carolers and when we came home, Santa had dropped off the presents. It was Magical! Happy Christmas to you!

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  21. I love that song too! I have that CD and know the song well. Well, I'm not jealous of the warmth that you're having right now, since it's warm here in GA too. But I AM jealous of that amazing beach and sunshine and gorgeous views you're having. I have never been to Hawaii but it is on my bucket list! I hope you're having a fantastic time with your family. I think that's a great gift to everyone.

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  22. A beautiful blog. I have that Bing Crosby album
    .Merry Christmas from Canada.

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  23. Carol,
    This post is heart warming and a nostalgic memory of much more innocent times. How delightful to be in Hawaii with family creating new Christmas memories and thank you for sharing the photo of Santa made in sand. It's so warm in Philadlelphia a white Christmas will not happen so I'm enjoying your photo that is cute as can be. A rainbow after rain, magic indeed ... Merry Christmas sweet Carol and I know all your wishes for 2016 will come true, Well maybe all but world peace.
    Sending love and hugs,
    Vera

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  24. Ahhhhh Carol. Enjoy. What a beautiful place to spend Christmas with your sweet family. Enjoy.
    Kris

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  25. What a fun time! I lived in Hawaii for a few years and love the song Mele Kalikimka! Enjoy! I will be in Texas for Christmas but found out my oldest will make a detour on her way to Georgia to be with me Christmas Eve and Day. I am so happy!
    hugs,
    Linda

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  26. Carol, I missed this when you first posted, but see it on my sidebar tonight. Ironically, just today the radio was playing Mele Kalikimkal, and of course my thoughts went straight to you. How wonderful that you are sharing this beautiful island experience with your children. I visited Hawaii in the summer of 1970. It was the first big vacation I took after graduating from the University and earning my own money. What fun memories!

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  27. What a wonderful and precious memory of this year's Christmas holiday. Enjoy your trip and your family. Merry Christmas to you all.

    Judy

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  28. Hope things are settling down and your strep throat people are feeling better. Everything looks so peaceful and relaxing. Have a safe trip home!

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  29. Your post took me down my own memory lane. I'm one year older than you, Carol, and one year I went with my father to a relatives house and when we returned home, Santa had already come and left presents under our tree. May you have a blessed and memorable time with your family in Hawaii. Merry Christmas!

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  30. Happy Hawaiian Christmas! I heard that song three times today and thought of you!

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  31. What a delightful post...thanks so much for sharing this with us.
    Such a magical place to spend Christmas...and with your family makes is PERFECT.
    Have fun....and keep taking those awesome photos..
    xoxo Merry Christmas to you and to all those you love so much.

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  32. Hi Carol, wishing you a beautiful time on this wonderful trip to Hawaii. I love that song and your photos are amazing. Enjoy your time with family and the sunshine.
    Merry Christmas!! xo

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  33. Dear Carol. I hop e that you and your family have a wonderful Christmas in Hawaii. I loved the reminiscing. I remember we had a whole album of Clint Walker music and of course we had that Bing Crosby one. Merry Christmas Rhondi xo

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  34. Delightful post, Carol! And I'm so happy you and your family are together in Paradise for Christmas.
    Merry Christmas,
    Mary Alice

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  35. Christmas of yesterday and today shared together so beautifully, Carol. I hope you enjoy every single second with your family and wish you a very, very Merry Christmas! :)

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  36. Wonderful memories and also the new ones you are creating. The snow man is great. I can see you are all enjoying your Christmas present! Merry Christmas to you all. Sarah x

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  37. Ooh! This is so wonderful! It's one of my biggest dreams to spend some holidays on Hawaii. I can't even imagine how beautiful is it there. Have a perfect vacation there. Best wishes!

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  38. What a wonderful trip! Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
    Helen xox

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  39. What an exciting trip! I love the sandman. Have a wonderful and Merry Christmas xx

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  40. Oh what a Beautiful Tropical Christmas you have Shared with us! I visited the Garden Island on our Honeymoon many Moons ago. *LOL* Always have wanted to make the return visit and Hope to one day, it is indeed a slice of Paradise! Merry Christmas from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian

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  41. Mele Kalikimaka, Joyeux Nöel, Happy Yule, Y'all, and Merry Christmas to you and yours, Carol! I wanted to let you know how much you and your blog mean to me.

    Safe travels!

    xo,
    Ricki Jill

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  42. Glad you had a joyous Christmas Carol. Truly sounds like paradise! Happy New Year my friend. Send me a photo of you when you get a chance. I will be using it to show the hosts of SYC.
    hugs and Happy New Year!
    Jann

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  43. The sandman is aodrable! Enjoy the last days of the year!

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  44. What a lovely trip and so sunny and warm! I would love to be there right now...
    Have a great and happy NEW YEAR!
    Titti

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  45. Oh Carol,
    I love, love, loved this post. I am so happy that you and your family had a wonderful and very memorable Christmas. Wishing you an awesome new week my dear friend.

    Hugs,
    ❤️Ana

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  46. Oh this is my kind of place. Love the gorgeous scenery. The views are breath taking. Enjoy your holidays in the sun. So jealous...

    Wishing you a happy and blessed New Year.

    Janet

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  47. Such a sweet post, welcome home, Carol! I love the nostalgic pictures. My mother had one of those huge console stereos and the Christmas albums came out the day after Thanksgiving. My sisters and I would roll our eyes but I guess the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree. After a month a Christmas songs playing here, it's finally over! And I love to watch my kids singing along---these will always be their memories of our home during the holidays.

    Scrolled back to see your home tour---love, love everything, especially your pillows. They are festive and make a room soft and cozy. Lulu looks like she is in heaven! Your creativity is wonderful and I smile whenever I see your bright, light-filled home!

    Jane x

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  48. Sweet post. Keep updating. Thank you for your post and wishes. Thank you so much :)

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  49. Hi Carol, what a lovely post . . . looks like you had a great trip.
    Love the sandman :)
    Connie :)

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  50. O, I can't wait for you to get back home and start showing us more photos.....:)
    xo

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  51. How nice to reminisce with you
    and I love that sand man LOL

    have a cool Christmas

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  52. cute post. I was about the same age when Santa brought my record player well actually I almost put my mom thru the TV at my Uncle's while she was setting it up. I walked up behind her and scared her to death. She told me that she was testing it for Santa. Uh uh yeah right mom. LOL
    I still believe how about you

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