Customs, Traditions and Celebrations - Local Style!

Customs, Traditions and Celebrations - Local Style!

Char Siu - some ono!

If you grew up Island style, your spring social calendar probably included:  New Years Day, Chinese New Years, Valentines Day, Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday, Girls Day, St. Patricks Day, Easter, Boys Day, May Day and so on.

While many of these dates have a cultural or religious significance, they also represent an opportunity to eat special foods and celebrate.  And no matter what your background is - if there's anything that brings us together - it's good food and kanikapila! 



Kalua Pig!



Baby Kaiona and Tutu Judy with her smash cake!

Chicken Long Rice

Recently, I had the honor to attend a baby luau for Kaiona Smith, the youngest of the Smith ohana of Jacksonville.  Proud parents Benjamin and Keawe hosted more than 100 guests to this very special event.  As a recap - in traditional Hawaiian times, infant mortality rate was quite high.  So for a child to reach their first year was quite an accomplishment and thus - the baby luau AKA, 'Aha Aina Piha Makahiki - Feast of the Fullness of the Year.


Spam Musubi

Poi

Lomi Salmon
 



Guava Chiffon and Chantilly Chocolate Cupcakes

In grand fashion, the food symbolized our melting pot culture - tossed and macaroni salad, spam musubi, assorted sushi, baked sweet potato, chicken long rice, lumpia, several kine baked chicken, paniolo smoked pork and ribs, char siu, poi, lomi salmon and kalua pig!  Of course we didn't forget dessert - can you say guava chiffon and Chantilly chocolate cupcakes just like the ones from Liliha Bakery?  How 'bout chocolate macadamia shortbread just like the ones from Big Island chocolates?  Suffice to say, elastic waistband pants were in order!  Mahalo to everyone who contributed - for the food, the decorations, the entertainment and mana'o (knowledge and wisdom). Check out the recipe tab for Tutu Judy Olmo's lomi salmon - she uses fresh salmon which she salts - brok' da mout! 


Who has room for dessert?

Noh forget on Saturday, Feb. 7 - the upcoming Ho'olaule'a in Fleming Island to benefit the Clay County Foodbank, being coordinated by Jet and Kristen Belleza and their extended ohana - bring some canned goods and a covered dish to share!