Mele kalikimaka 2024

 We celebrated Christmas 2024 with the Naidu family. It was a whirlwind of a week, but we totally loved it and had a great time doing Christmas "Island-Style".

Friday December 20 - We flew from Haneda to Honolulu, leaving at 9pm on Friday and arriving at 9am on Friday. Never get used to that weird time travel! We were pretty wiped out, but managed to make it through the day by having fun with the grandkids. We made a stop by Foodland for poke and then picked up Amari up from her last day of school before Christmas break. That evening we went to the beach for the sunset and then came home and decorated gingerbread houses. Very fun, and very tired by the end of the day!







Saturday December 21 - We started off the morning at Koa Pancake House and Ka Makana Mall and then hit up Santa for come cute pics! Unfortunately, when it was time to leave the battery in the van had died. Avniel came to rescue us but somehow in the process of jumping the battery the sliding door quit working. We ended up driving back home with the door stuck OPEN. Avniel took a video of us riding down the road with the door open, but I couldn't get it to download. We spent the rest of the day prepping for the big ward party. Megan and Amari performed a hula dance together that was awesome.







Sunday December 22 - Enjoyed an hour of church then came home to feast on Bonh Mi sandwiches. After dinner we took the kids to the park. Then, when it got dark we drove to Waikele for some Christmas lights!










Monday December 23 - The waves were huge on the North Shore (The Big Eddie was held on Sunday) so we drove up to take a look and to meet up with the Suyama family. We had a really fun time at the beach (Puaena Point) then got take out from Seven Brothers and finished off by getting shave ice with Suyamas. We couldn't stay too long because Megan and Amari had a hula performance at the Marriot at KoOlina. It was so beautiful that evening, with a light breeze and perfect sunset!
















Tuesday December 24 - Christmas Eve started out with Grampy taking the kids to the park (by himself!) for 3 hours. Megan, Avniel and I went to Waikele to pick out some Christmas ornaments and get some supplies for the Christmas brisket. That evening we gathered at Anant and Amy's house with Vin and Geeta, Aunty Pushba, cousin Tina, and Nan and Lloyd. We had a delicious pot luck dinner of Curry, roti, couscous salad, pork cutlets, cookie salad,, and red velvet cupcakes! After the party we came home and watched Rudolph the Red Noesed Reindeer together. The kiddos went to bed and then Avniel and Kimball prepped the smoker and the brisket, and then put bikes together! We still made it to bed by about 11:30.









Wednesday December 25 - Christmas morning came pretty early at the Naidus (I think Aliyah was up at 3am, but eventually went back to bed, then Amari was up by 6:30!). We had a great time opening presents and checking out the new bikes. Naidus went over the see the Anviel's family while Kimball and I called our family. Later that afternoon we feasted on brisket and then went to the beach for the sunset. Geeta and Tina joined us and then Tina came over to play games in the evening.























Thursday December 26 - We drove into Honolulu to the Ala Moana mall so that Megan and I could get bracelets made (it was Megan's Christmas give to me). While we were doing that Kimball and Avniel had the kids in Foodland getting lunch. It sounds like it was a little bit rough for them with all the kids, but everyone survived so we count it as a win. Our Christmas gift to Shaneel was a trip to Kid City so that was our next stop. Everyone had a blast! We made one more trip to the beach for the sunset and this time Avniel surfed. Then we came home and played games one more time.  

















Friday December 27 - Going home day is always a bit of a bummer. But Amari got a new game for Christmas called Out Foxed and we were able to fit in one round of play with her before we left!






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