When we recently invited readers to share their holiday traditions, we received far more wonderful stories than we could fit into a single article. From midnight church services to family cookie-decorating sessions, these traditions show that the most meaningful parts of the holidays aren’t necessarily the gifts or decorations. It’s the moments spent together, year after year, creating memories that become part of a person’s story. Here are a few more traditions worth sharing.
A meaningful Christmas Eve
The holiday season stretches beyond Christmas Eve celebrations for China Andrade, HMSA community engagement specialist. One tradition, in particular, helps her family focus on the deeper meaning of the season.
“We attend midnight Mass together as a family, which is always a meaningful and reflective way for us to celebrate the holiday,” she says. “When we get home, we each open one gift before heading to bed, which makes Christmas morning feel even more exciting.”
The Andrade ʻohana gathered for the holidays. Photo courtesy China Andrade
The festivities continue after Christmas as well. Rather than competing with holiday crowds, Andrade and her family have found a way to extend the season.
“The day after Christmas, my family and I visit the Honolulu City Lights and Kapolei Hale displays. It’s less crowded, and it’s a fun way for us to keep the holiday spirit going a little longer.”
Family time
Some of Ben Morgan’s favorite holiday memories revolve around family movie nights. The HMSA vice president of Customer Service & Advocacy says sharing holiday classics with his sons is one of the traditions he looks forward to most.
“A favorite tradition of mine is watching Elf every year with my boys. It still really makes me laugh after seeing it so many times, and the boys have actually started asking about it if I don’t bring it up first,” he says. “I also make them watch the old Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer movie, and they complain about that one, but I think they secretly like it.”
Morgan said the movies have become such a regular part of the season that they are now expected in his household, creating another opportunity for family members to gather and share a laugh.
Another tradition in Morgan’s family centers around Christmas Eve baking. “Every year we make and decorate cookies on Christmas Eve – originally for Santa but now just for us!”
While the reason behind the cookies may have evolved over the years, the tradition itself remains intact. Like many family customs, it has adapted as the children have grown older while still preserving the joy and togetherness that made it special in the first place.
A celebration of many cultures
In the Hurtarte family, the holidays celebrate the many cultures and traditions that shape their family history. For Frank Hurtarte, HMSA senior vice president and chief people officer, the season is a time to reconnect, share food, and honor the backgrounds represented in his extended family.
“Growing up in such a large family, we’ve always recognized the importance of setting aside time to celebrate and reconnect,” he says.
The Hurtarte ʻohana enjoying the sun and sea. Photo courtesy Frank Hurtarte
During the holidays, the family shares dishes that reflect their Latino, Irish, Native Hawaiian, African American, Filipino, Italian, and Korean heritage. Together, the meal becomes a way to celebrate the diversity within their family. “These traditions not only strengthen our bonds but also honor the rich cultures that define us,” Hurtarte says.
The holiday table reflects generations of heritage, bringing together multiple cultures and traditions in a single celebration.
Girls getaway
An annual girls trip has become a favorite tradition for Kim Hera, manager of the HMSA Center in Kahului. “My daughters have started girl trips from 2023 where we’d take a trip a year (anywhere) and it’s usually during the fall because my oldest girl is a Halloween junkie,” she says.
While not tied to a specific holiday, the getaways have become part of the season her family looks forward to each year. They provide dedicated time together and the chance to create new memories in new places.
More than a tradition
Whether it’s attending midnight Mass, admiring holiday lights, watching favorite movies, decorating cookies, sharing cultural foods or taking a special trip with loved ones, these traditions have one thing in common: they bring people together.
Holiday traditions don’t have to be elaborate to matter. Often, the memories that last the longest come from making time for family and friends, year after year, and having something special to look forward to each season.
Make your holiday rounds
Love reading about holiday traditions? These islandscene.com articles explore the customs, foods, gatherings, and family moments that help make the season meaningful in Hawaiʻi and beyond.
