We had such a wonderful Christmas Eve in Hawaii. The two wards that meet in the new Keei building were meeting together at 9 am for a Christmas program. They filled the chapel and most of the cultural hall overflow area! It was a wonderful program with music and narration. It was really well done, beautiful quotes from prophets about Christ, beautiful music. I was afraid that it was going to be really long, as they first had different auxiliaries come up to sing a number, and logistically that just takes a lot of time. But they had Priesthood men sing, then Primary, then Young Women and the rest was choir or soloists intermingled with the narration. It really was well done and ended exactly on time. I could tell they had worked really hard on it for a long time. It's a good thing that the wards were split as they were a very large bunch ! There was one newer Christmas-y song called "All is Well." It was lovely. Hmmm. Just looked it up. Simple words. I wonder if someone in the ward transposed it into a choral arrangement? Anyway, I had not heard it before and I think it's a country music song but the words and music are lovely and I quite liked it, along with the more traditional Christmas hymns and solos that were shared. Lovely.
After church, we had a light lunch of some chicken salad sandwiches I made from the Carls' left-over chicken, and then most just rested and napped, I got started packing to see just where all our stuff was going to fit since we leave the following day. We were going to a big dinner later in the evening. The Nakamoto family hosts a HUGE dinner at Thanksgiving, Christmas AND New Years! We've been to the New Years Eve celebration in years past, but this was our first time to experience the Christmas one. Junichi and Shirley Nakamoto are the elders in this family. Such gracious and generous people. They have 7 grown children, most of whom still live in the area or with them. One is in American Fork. One son married the niece of one of Mike's missionary companions. After these many years of visiting them in this season, they are finally starting to look familiar to me. Jill and Shan, Sheldon and Holly, Shane and _____, another boy whose name sounds like all those others, plus four or so girls whose names are like Jan, Jill, Jeannet, and _____. Good people, all. Bro. and Sister Nakamoto invites family, friends, neighbors and those who need to have family on a holiday. Everyone brings food and there is tons and tons of it. Truly. I couldn't begin to name all the foods, and all the foods come in copious amounts. It's astounding and impossible to try it all. But I made a good stab at it. ha.
We arrived there around 5 pm. The farm is on the mountain, kind of hard to find and the car bottomed out a time or two getting there. The food started to be served around 6, after eating came something of a talent show, then the nativity, presented by the children. Most (many?) are Nakomoto grandchildren, but they will use any who are there, costumes and props are provided and a narrator says more than just the verses in Luke 2. There's a bit more depth and some more soloists who have gorgeous voices, and there were a few hymns sung by all to ukulele accompaniment. I think Berenice was freezing, but I was Okay with capris, sandals and a light windbreaker. Mike never even put on long sleeves. Oh, and the sunset. Wow. Pretty. The kids were so cute.
When we got home, it was time to get serious about packing up for tomorrow's departure, so that's what I did. Mike and Berenice and Gayela played a few hands of cards. It is a good thing we brought an extra suitcase because we used about every square inch. I made my list of all that we needed to do the next morning before leaving. It was starting to get long, but Mike agreed to lend a hand. That was nice. And needful.
Under the huge double pavilion at the Nakamoto's yard, there are lots and lots of tables. Some are picnic tables, others not. I looked under this one to see who had left bundles under there and found this clawed table leg. With toenails!
You can see how the grounds are on a slope. It is, after all, on the side of the mountain. They mostly farm Macadamia nuts now. Originally, it was chickens for eggs, pigs, nuts, and more. Now just nuts as a side job. The sons all have careers of their owns to support their families. There are grass stairs up to the house from the pavilion level. I think there are lava rocks under them, but the grass is so well-established that the stairs are cushion-y.
I thought that the sunset was pretty as I was standing in the lower part of the pavilion. Not yet.
Gayela, Kay and Michael Wilson, Me, Berenice, Mike.
THIS is the beautiful sunset view from up on the lawn behind the pavilion.
More lawn, ample parking, and plenty of kids.
There's a built-in grill, plumbed sinks, florescent lighting and indoor-outdoor carpeting on the floor.
Play area for kids and plenty of visiting going on as people gather.
After eating, a cute and spunky little hula girl got the full-time missionaries to assist her in singing and dancing the 12 Days of Christmas, Hawaiian Style. Such things as FIVE big fat pigs, six shrimp a-swimming, and one Papaya in a tree. I have all the words. It's cute.
Berenice, Kay, Nakamoto's in the background, and Gayela all enjoying the performances.
This hula dancer was very talented. She did a couple of songs, and one was with another girl. She used the bamboo sticks, gourds, drum--the whole nine yards. The music her Dad was providing from the iPhone gave out and she just went on till he caught up. Talented girl. I think she's a Nakamoto granddaughter, but I'm not sure.
And we even had a ballerina!
This is one shot of the nativity re-enactment up on the side of the hill. Angles, shepherds, wise men and the holy family. The shephers were actually shepherding a poodle/sheep-looking little dog.
Moano Loa and Mauna Kea both have snow on top, and as we flew out on Monday the 25th, we got a good view of the scene!
