Happy New Year!

The firecracker were hung from the ladders with care...

For anyone who grew up in Hawaii, fireworks and firecrakers are a necessary part of New Year's Eve. In addition to the family garage parties and kids running around playing with fire, everyone sets up their own version of the contraption pictured above in their front yard from which to hang a long string of firecracker to light at midnight.

You had to be there in person!

Kaneohe looks to be extra smokey tonight since according to the ladies at Long's "dis is all we got lef dis year... we almost sold out! And we had some of da extras from da Waianae store sent ova!" And so much for the "illegal ban of aerials"... da sky was lit!

Some things just don't photograph well...

Although there's nothing "traditionally New Years" about tempura, that is what my dad made us for our annual family meal... SO delicious! and with veggies fresh from my brother's garden!

And later that night, we made sushi for the party that would be at our house the next day. And after the last strand of firecrackers were lit, we all returned to the kitchen to eat soba... fist meal of the year = noodles = long life! let's hope it works! la heim!

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