A New Year Thought

The new year is a few hours away.

Grocery stores are buzzing with last minute shoppers as carts are filled with all new year celebration necessities. The new year rush is here. In Hawaii, tradition is strong. Since this state is blessed with a diverse population, each ethnicity prepares their own new year treats. It becomes the perfect home for the foodie.

Most Filipino families prepare their own holiday treats while others just order catered food. Filipino stores gear up for the new year by preparing ready made plates or boxes of well-known traditional treats from kutsinta, bibingka, puto bumbong, pansit and more. While the Japanese  prepare their mochi and special gift boxes, the Hawaiians wrap their delicious lau laus and fire up their huli huli chicken. What I'm trying to explain here is that although Hawaii has so many ethnic groups, holidays such as the new year bring everyone together. Although each ethnicity prepares their own traditional food according to their own beliefs and traditions, come midnight, we'll all be, at least here in the island of O'ahu, lighting up the firecrackers to ward off bad luck and welcome the new year with a clean slate and celebrate as one.

Hau'oli Makahiki Hou! Happy New Year! Naimbag nga baru nga tawen tayo amin!

Wherever you are, with family or far from home, may the new year bring you all the things that make you smile.