On the 24th (of December 1778), about half an hour after day-break, land was discovered bearing NE by E½E. Upon a nearer approach, it was found to be one of those low islands so common in this ocean …”
“… that is, a narrow bank of land inclosing the sea within. A few cocoa-nut trees were seen in two or three places; but in general the land had a very barren appearance.”
“As we kept our Christmas here, I called this discovery Christmas Island. … Christmas Island, like most others in this ocean, is bounded by a reef of coral rocks, which extends but a little way from the shore. Farther out than this reef, on the west side, is a bank of sand, extending a mile into the sea.” (Cook’s Journal)
An early (possibly the first evidence of Western Christmas in the Hawaiian Islands) involves Captain Dixon on the Queen Charlotte at Waimea, Kauai, noting …
“This being Christmas, that season of the year so universally convivial throughout the civilized world, we spent our time as agreeably, and with plenty of as good chear we could procure, such as roast pig, sea-pie, &c. &c …”
“… and to shew our refined taste, even in our liquor, we no longer drank grog mixed with simple water, but offered our Christmas libations in punch, mixed with the juice of the cocoa-nut …”
“… toasting our friends and mistresses in bumpers of this liquor, which, perhaps, pleased more on account of its novelty, than from any other circumstance.” (Dixon, 1786)
Sailing with Dixon, on the King George, was Captain Portlock, who “found it would be impracticable for us to reach Wymoa before night came on; at this time we were not far from a comfortable house belonging to Abbenooe (at Niihau) …”
“… therefore I determined to take up my lodging in it for the night, and my companions were glad to embrace the same opportunity, as they were greatly fatigued with their walk. We arrived at the house about sunset, and one of Abbenooe’s men, who had joined us in the course of the afternoon …”
“… gave directions for a hog and a dog to be immediately killed and dressed for our suppers, together with a large quantity of taro. The house was well lighted up with torches made of dry rushes, and at eight o’clock supper being ready, it was served up in great order, and I think few people ever ate a heartier supper that we did.”
“My friend’s man acted as master of the ceremonies, and served the provisions to each person; and after our feast was ended, he ordered the remains to be taken care of, as he told me it was for us to eat before we set out in the morning.” (Portlock, 1786)
On December 30, 1837, the Sandwich Islands Gazette published an announcement, “With all good wishes for the welfare of our patrons, and of every member of the community, we wish them a Merry Christmas and a ‘very happy new year’.” It was probably the first public acknowledgement of Christmas as a day for celebration. (Spoehr)
The following year, in a December 22, 1838, edition of the newspaper, its editor, Stephen D. Mackintosh, was on time with its Christmas salutation: “Christmas We wish you all a merry Christmas! Patrons. And many a return of the day for years to come!”
“From the ‘Sketch Book’ we have extracted a fragment upon Christmas which may be read with interest at this season: ‘At Christmas be merry, and thankful with all. And treat thy poor neighbors, the great with the small.’” (Spoehr)
The Polynesian reminded folks that “The human system requires excitements of various natures to bring into play all its latent energies. Fasting and feasting have their important bodily purposes, as varying the routine and restraining the energy of an otherwise too apathetic life.”
“So with certain seasons designed by the Church to diversify the regularity of sabbath worship, and bring to the minds of men, even amid the times of their busy worldly action, the claims of their Redeemer.”
“Seasons like these have a great tendency to prevent religion from degenerating into a set, periodical frame of mind, very appropriate for the particular day, but quite foreign to the active relations of life.”
“Even those churches that decline the acknowledgement of any of the festivals which have been commemorated from the times of the Apostles down, and are now alike venerable by age, and dear by association, set apart other times for fasting or thanksgiving, or for stimulating what is technically called ‘revivals.’”
“They feel the need and imitate the example, though without regularity, or the authority of antiquity, or the intent to perpetuate the memory of any important event bearing upon the eternal interests of mankind, to commend it. But what ever may be the views of our various readers, we most cordially wish them a ‘merry Christmas.’” (Polynesian, December 28, 1844)
The paper also noted, “On Christmas the places of business of the foreign merchants were generally closed, and their occupants engaged in the customary amusements of the day.” (The Polynesian, December 28, 1844)
Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma officially celebrated Christmas for the first time in 1862. Kamehameha IV had previously (1856) set aside December 25 as a national day of Thanksgiving, but later gave public notice that Christmas would be formally observed on December 25th. (Kanahele)
“(W)hen Christmas came round, the (Episcopal) bishop endeavoured to attract them by observances which are familiar to us, but which were new to the Hawaiians.”
“The bishop writes in his journal: ‘Until this year, Christmas had never been outwardly observed here at all. Business had always been transacted as usual, and even the schools used to reopen after the recess about the 20th, as if on purpose to ignore the day.’”
“‘We resolved to inaugurate a different state of things, and no longer to suffer the birthday of our blessed Lord to pass without due honour. The king (Kamehameha IV), who is heartily with us in all our proceedings, proclaimed a general holiday for that day; all the government offices were closed, shops shut up, and business generally suspended.’”
“‘Two days before, the king sent to the mountains to cut green boughs. There are no English evergreens here; the trees, it is true, are always in foliage, but when branches are cut, they soon wither.’”
“‘There is, however, abundance of cypress, and the king procured for us besides, a large quantity of myrtle, and orange boughs, and beautiful flowers. Twenty Hawaiians, both men and women of the higher class, helped us in the decoration, and we succeeded in making the temporary church very Christmas-like and pleasant-looking.’”
“Can you not fancy how much pleasure the sight of a decorated church, and the first sound of our Christmas hymns, must have given the Hawaiians?” (Donne)
Arch Deacon Mason noted, “I never saw in England a church so beautifully decorated.” The Protestants at Kawaiaha‘o and Catholics at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace decorated their own with wreaths. (Kanahele)
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Remember gathering sugarcane tassels and making a Christmas Tree out of them ? We had no way to get a conifer.