The Christian festival of Christmas was introduced to Hawaii with the arrival of Protestant missionaries, and is believed to have started after 1820. Most of the traditions they currently celebrate come from the missionaries. Before the Hawaiians celebrated the Christmas people know today, they had a festival named Makahiki which lasted around four months and in which all wars were forbidden. The season still had the essence of “peace and goodwill to all men”, which is another thing people tend to associate with Christmas.
12 Days of Christmas, Hawaiian Style
brought to you by iHula Hawaii. She
demonstrates hand movements in
her video!
The lyrics danced and sung in the video below. Tutu means ‘Grandmother.’
On the first day of Christmas
My tutu gave to me
One mynah bird in one papaya tree
On the second day of Christmas
My tutu gave to me
2 coconuts and
One mynah bird in one papaya tree
On the third day of Christmas
My tutu gave to me
3 dried squid
2 coconuts and
One mynah bird in one papaya tree
On the fourth day of Christmas
My tutu gave to me
4 flower leis
3 dried squid
2 coconuts and
One mynah bird in one papaya tree
On the fifth day of Christmas
My tutu gave to me
5 big fat pigs
4 flower leis
3 dried squid
2 coconuts and
One mynah bird in one papaya tree
On the sixth day of Christmas
My tutu gave to me
6 hula lessons
5 big fat pigs
4 flower leis
3 dried squid
2 coconuts and
One mynah bird in one papaya tree
On the seventh day of Christmas
My tutu gave to me
7 shrimps a swimming
6 hula lessons
5 big fat pigs
4 flower leis
3 dried squid
2 coconuts and
One mynah bird in one papaya tree
On the eighth day of Christmas
My tutu gave to me
8 ukuleles
7 shrimps a swimming
6 hula lessons
5 big fat pigs
4 flower leis
3 dried squid
2 coconuts and
One mynah bird in one papaya tree
On the ninth day of Christmas
My tutu gave to me
9 pounds of poi
8 ukuleles
7 shrimps a swimming
6 hula lessons
5 big fat pigs
4 flower leis
3 dried squid
2 coconuts and
One mynah bird in one papaya tree
On the tenth day of Christmas
My tutu gave to me
10 rainbow shave ice
pounds of poi
8 ukuleles
7 shrimps a swimming
6 hula lessons
5 big fat pigs
4 flower leis
3 dried squid
2 coconuts and
One mynah bird in one papaya tree
On the eleventh day of Christmas
My tutu gave to me
11 mu`u mu`u…
10 rainbow shave ice
9 pounds of poi
8 ukuleles
7 shrimps a swimming
6 hula lessons
5 big fat pigs
4 flower leis
3 dried squid
2 coconuts and
One mynah bird in one papaya tree
On the twelfth day of Christmas
My tutu gave to me
12 televisions
11 mu`u mu`u…
10 rainbow shave ice
pounds of poi
8 ukuleles
7 shrimps a swimming
6 hula lessons
5 big fat pigs
4 flower leis
3 dried squid
2 coconuts and
One mynah bird in one papaya tree