Numbah One Day of Christmas
At first glance, it all looks familiar. Trees are decorated with bright lights. Santa makes his appearances at the local shopping malls. It's impossible to find parking at those same shopping malls.
But then the closer visitors look, the more they notice subtle differences: the food, the activities, the carols. We do everything in Hawaii a bit differently than the rest of the world, including our Christmases. This carol below is a local favorite, dusted off year after year and sung with glee, laughter, and often much confusion as people forget specific days.
I leave you with The Twelve Days of Christmas, local style. Mele Kalikimaka, everyone!
by Eaton B. Magoon Jr., Edward Kenny, Gordon N. Phelps
© 1959 Hawaiian Recording and Publishing Company, Inc.
Numbah One day of Christmas, my tutu give to me
One mynah bird in one papaya tree.
Numbah Two day of Christmas, my tutu give to me
Two coconut, an' one mynah bird in one papaya tree.
Numbah Tree day of Christmas, my tutu give to me
Tree dry squid, two coconut,
An' one mynah bird in one papaya tree.
Numbah Foah day of Christmas, my tutu give to me
Foah flowah lei, tree dry squid, two coconut,
An' one mynah bird in one papaya tree.
Numbah Five day of Christmas, my tutu give to me
Five beeg fat peeg... foah flowah lei, tree dry squid, two coconut,
An' one mynah bird in one papaya tree.
Numbah Seex day of Christmas, my tutu give to me
Seex hula lesson, five beeg fat peeg (that make TEN!),
Foah flowah lei, tree dry squid, two coconut,
An' one mynah bird in one papaya tree.
Numbah Seven day of Christmas, my tutu give to me
Seven shrimp a-swimmin', seex hula lesson,
Five beeg fat peeg, foah flowah lei, tree dry squid, two coconut,
An' one mynah bird in one papaya tree.
Numbah Eight day of Christmas, my tutu give to me
Eight ukulele, seven shrimp a-swimmin', seex hula lesson,
Five beeg fat peeg (that make TWENNY!), foah flowah lei, tree dry squid, two coconut,
An' one mynah bird in one papaya tree.
Numbah Nine day of Christmas, my tutu give to me
Nine pound of poi, eight ukulele, seven shrimp a-swimmin',
Seex hula lesson, five beeg fat peeg, foah flowah let, tree dry squid, two coconut,
An' one mynah bird in one papaya tree.
Numbah Ten day of Christmas, my tutu give to me
Ten can of beer, nine pound of poi, eight ukuklele, seven shrimp a-swimmin'
Seex hula lesson, five beeg fat peeg,
Foah flowah lei, tree dry squid, two coconut,
An' one mynah bird in one papaya tree.
Numbah Eleven day of Christmas, my tutu give to me
Eleven missionary, ten can of beer, nine pound of poi,
Eight ukulele, seven shrimp a-swimmin', seex hula lesson,
Five beeg fat peeg, foah flowah lei, tree dry squid, two coconut,
An' one mynah bird in one papaya tree.
(Numbah Twelve day of Christmas the bes', and the bes' stuff always come las'...)
Numbah Twelve day of Christmas, my tutu give to me
Twelve TELEVISION, eleven missionary, ten can of beer,
Nine pound of poi, eight ukulele, seven shrimp a-swimmin',
Seex hula lesson, FORTY steenkin' peeg,
Foah flowah lei, tree dry squid, two coconut,
An' one mynah bird in one papaya tree!
Read more about the history of this song.
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Hi Alan,
Seems like we used a similar photo for our little Christmas announcement, thuough I took mine during the day!
I haven't thought about that tune in years...thanks for bringing back memories.
Mele Kalikimaka!
Mele Kalikimaka Alan!!! I hope you're eating well!
Reid, that Santa flashing the shaka is a classic. Did you hear it was going to cost $600,000 to warehouse him until someone donated temp warehouse space?!
James, if I eat another bite, I might explode. Man, I have lots to write about, should I ever find the time.