Hawaiian Christmas Nativity - The Coconut Creche

The Hawaiian Coconut Creche is our signature Christmas item in our online store. Year after year, it is a favorite both for locals and mainlanders alike. Everyone is included - Mary, Joseph, the wise men, sheep, shepherds, the angel and of course baby Jesus. And it wouldn't be a "Hawaiian" creche without a little coconut tree to add to the subtle, yet obvious coconut shell nativity scene that everyone is presented on.

Because the creche is a handmade handicraft and made from coconut shells (no one is exactly alike), each creche is unique. That's one of the attractions we enjoy as we inspect and send them out. We notice the subtle differences of each and every one.

What happens when you travel to Hawaii during Christmas, get a Hawaiian Coconut Creche as a gift and it breaks during travel or in the mail? Do you send it back? You can, but because it is so easy to fix, you might want to rethink that. With all the time it takes to repack it, run it to the local post office and wait for a replacement, you might be able to avoid all that with a couple minutes of work with some wood glue.

If you don't have any wood glue, you can probably borrow some from your friendly neighborhood handyman, or craft enthusiast, or even pick up a small bottle at the local department store. Just press the glue into the area that is loose or has fallen off. It's that simple. The glue dries clear so it's hardly noticeable. If you are really good with the glue, you might not even see any evidence at all that there was a break or damage. Voile!

Of course, if you want to send it back, no problem there as well. Your satisfaction is paramount. We'll send a replacement painlessly. After all, it is the season and we strive to embody the subject. Just some food for thought.

Mele Kalikimaka!

* This post has been updated with new link to our new storefront. Adjustment to repair instructions also updated.

Customize Your Hawaiian Quilt Christmas Stockings

It's something that you really don't see outside of Hawaii very often, let alone in Hawaii. Hand quilted Hawaiian Christmas stockings are a creative take on the Christmas icon and traditional Hawaiian quilting. Sometimes you'll see "embroidered" Hawaiian stockings that are done by machine. But they just don't have that "handmade" feel.

A few years ago, we started to offer our hand quilted stockings online. They were an instant classic and an immediate bright spot for our store. The little extra touches such as the piping edges, traditional Hawaiian quilt motifs and the "Mele Kalikimaka" embroidered on the cuff lent to the authentic look of the stocking.

Now we are offering an option - a blank cuff where you can add in your own name or saying. It is something that has been requested in the past and we loved the idea. It only makes sense that you would want to put your own name on your stocking. All the other elements are there except for the name so you still have that "Hawaiian" feeling.

We aren't going to be actually doing the custom embroidery but you should be able to do that at your local mall. We suggest looking at a hat store or a logowear store. Even some department stores have customizing services.

Mele Kalikimaka!

Hawaiian Coconut Creche Nativity - Christmas in Hawaii

Bringing Polynesia to you is more easier than ever before and with the holiday's coming up, we're more than happy to wish everyone a very Merry Hawaiian Christmas - Mele Kalikimaka.

The traditional manger scene everyone is familiar with takes on a little twist in Hawaii. People picture the South Pacific with tropical palm trees, beautiful white sand beaches, and warm sunny skies. They also are right in assuming that coconut trees are an important part of island life. Coconut trees are a source of so many things including food, drink, oil, wood, weaving material, rope, shade, and decorative items aplenty. It is called - the tree of life.

One of the more creative and fun uses of the coconut (niu in Hawaiian) is our own coconut creche. It's a Hawaiian manger nativity scene complete with wooden stable animals, Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus and just a touch of the islands - a coconut palm tree. The manger is made of the inside of the coconut husk. The cleaned out coconut husk sits atop another piece of coconut.

Putting the creche together is a labor of love and even more so because they are assembled by Lanakila Pacific, a provider of services and programs geared toward building independence for people with challenged lives.

This is a great gift for those who have visited or lived in Hawaii. It's also great for those who want to share the "aloha spirit" with their loved ones.

Don't wait. Avoid the rush and save when you buy more than one at Black Pearl Designs.