Big Island House Project: Small town celebrations

Dec. 4

This weekend kicked off the Christmas season in Waimea (Post office name Kamuela. Yes this town has two names because there's a Waimea on nearly every island. So as not to confuse this Waimea with the Waimea on Maui, they give it a post office name of Kamuela. Why they don't just call the town Kamuela in the first place, I'll never know, but I'll certainly inquire around and give you an update).

The kickoff starts in nearby Honakaa (pronounced hone ah kah ah) with a tree lighting, santa, and some carols by local kids. (See video) All the shops open and we've got to know some of the shop owners who give us kama'aina rates (a discount given to locals. it means people of the land). Honakaa is a cute little tourist town where you can walk up one side and down the other and you're all done in less than an hour, or you can stretch it out by chatting up the shop owners. So we've met Babs, Michelle, Mary Ann, and Desiree. One thing we are finding out is everyone has come from somewhere else, and many we've met are from Washington.

Saturday, was the big parade in Waimea. They close down the main street and there are floats (mostly big trucks with lights on them) and people walking down the street representing all the businesses and community organizations in the area and nearby. It lasts about an hour or so and we got a front row place at the beginning of the parade, so we saw everything and left early. (Well, we had to get the lasagna on for dinner).

So far the people have been very friendly and welcoming. Our daily walks take us into some of the most beautiful green countryside with views of hillsides and Mauna Kea. It got a dose of snow this week. Building is moving along, albeit a little slowly. Currently, our builder, Monty Miranda, is digging out the driveway and house and septic area before the gravel and forms come and the slab is laid. Once we get the slab in, the construction should go faster. You'll see it all as it progresses.

Now I'm told some of you have found the blog and others not. I thought the address was:
bigislandhouseproject@blogspot.com but it also may be bigislandhouseproject.blogspot.com One of them should work. If you want to make a comment, be sure to sign in on google, then publish your comment or it won't show up.