Wednesday, November 23, 2011

ALOHA! Thanksgiving in Hawaii

This year we are spending Thanksgiving
in 
Maui, Hawaii
at the Grand Wailea.

We make quite a sight with
16 of us, 
5 children, 3 spouses
and 6 grandchildren, plus my husband and I.

This is our favorite place to stay in Hawaii
and it is so child friendly (but they do have
an exquisite pool and poolside area for
adults only if just the two of you want a getaway.)


This was the perfect year as no one was
pregnant or had just had a new baby 
(we have to plan around these things now
in order to get everyone here.)


Or so we thought, we got an announcement
here that my oldest son's wife is expecting
baby number three once we got here.  What
a joy that news was!

But the week before we went, we
had a birthday girl who was so excited about
going to Hawaii that she wanted a luau for her
7th birthday party.
So a Hawaiian Luau is our tablecape
for this week.


Years ago I had ordered a few grass table skirts
from Oriental Trading.  They have all kinds of wonderful
party supplies and lots of things for a luau.


I just hot glued them to the island to create our
luau tablescape.  (The hot glue just peeled off of the
granite afterwards.)  We created a banner with
her name on it with Hawaiian flowers and hung
it between the crystal chandeliers.


Here is the birthday girl all dressed for
the party.  She was so excited to help
decorate and make the banner.
(Her skirt and shell leis were also purchased
years ago from Oriental Trading.)


Her mom made a seascape cake with cupcakes
to go along with. 
I loved the ocean blue icing with "sand" sprinkled
on everything.  Notice the chocolate shells and crabs
and she even made ones with a life preserver and
a shark fin circling the life preserver.


The beach theme was carried out in fun cake
pops that she also made in ocean blue and
topped with white chocolate shells and sand.


The counter was filled with Hawaiian
items, wooden bowls in the shape of
pineapples, shells,


Tiki gods,


Coconut shell cups,



And a whole counter full of


other beachy items.


All of it was underscored with an aqua
shell-themed runner.


I made kalua pork rubbed with Hawaiian
sea salt and slow roasted for 18 hours.


My son made Spam sushi - a local Hawaiian
favorite (it really was very tasty!)


Mini lava flow shooters (non alcoholic)
were served.  They were the perfect size for
everyone to have a little taste.


And my daughter (the birthday girl's mom)
also made these cute flip flops out of 
Nutter Butters.


Of course we had fresh pineapple served in
a pineapple bowl and others brought sticky rice,
salads and home made rolls.


We had over 50 people at the luau.


It was a great birthday party and a perfect
prelude to a week in Hawaii to
celebrate Thanksgiving.



The thing that I feel most grateful for
this Thanksgiving
 is a wonderful
righteous posterity.  Every time we went out the
door and all 16 of us walked down the hall or
sat together at a huge table, I just felt overwhelming
feelings of gratitude
for these wonderful people
that I have been blessed to have in my life.







There is so much to be grateful for....

Because two people fell in love....


Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Newsflash!  After posting this, while
we were taking family photos at the beach
tonight we saw this on the beach -


So even more to be grateful for - we
will have 2 new grandbabies this summer!
(So isn't it funny that I said we were going this
year because no one was pregnant and no one
had a brand new baby and while here, two 
announced their pregnancies?!!)

I will be posting this with


Jacqueline
Jacqueline

Chocolat - French for Chocolate. I adored chocolate from a young age when I had to sneak in the cupboard to find where my mother had hidden the Nestle's Chocolate Chips. Having read about the famous chocolat shoppes in Paris, when I finally got there I was determined to try a chocolate from every Paris shoppe. I invite you to share my adventures in creating, in travel, and in life.

33 comments:

  1. Oh I just LOVE this post! The party looks perfect and Wailea is one of my favorite places. We always stay next door at the Fairmont Kea Lani. If you get a chance eat at Nick's Fishmarket there - amazing. We loved the luau at the Grand Wailea. Enjoy those water slides! Aloha!

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  2. Oooh my goodness! Enjoy :) We are going to Maui in May... but I wish I was going to be there for Thanksgiving instead! Have a wonderful time with your family :)

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  3. Happy Happy Thanksgivings.. Many blessings to you and yours. I loved your sweet party for your precious grandchild! It looks like an amazing time. xo marlis

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  4. I loved reading this post while taking a break from last minute stuff.....you have the right idea to go on a vacation with the family. You are truly blessed. Your grandchildren are absolutely adorable, such beautiful little faces. Happy Thanksgiving. xo

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  5. Looks like a fun B-Day and I'm sure Thanksgiving will be beautiful Jacqueline! Have fun:@)

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  6. just beautiful! we will be going to the Cayman Islands next year for thanksgiving and my parent's 50th anniversary and I. CAN'T. WAIT. Have a wonderful time with your family and happy thanksgiving!! anne

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  7. Happy Thanksgiving~

    Those beautiful faces ..you are right..so much to be grateful for.

    All so cute!!

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  8. You are counting the right kind of blessings. It's all about family. I'm glad you can all be together. Enjoy this special time.

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  9. what a beautiful post... so heart warming, your joy shines through. darling party and family, have a wonderful holiday playing your days away :)

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  10. Oh my goodness...what a wonderful birthday party...the food looks delicious. That slow roasted kahlua pork, it is making me salivate.
    The cake and cupcakes are just adorable!
    Have a great Thanksgiving with your family in our 50th state!

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  11. Hi Jacqueline
    The birthday food and decor is amazing - lucky girl to have a luau for her party.
    Thanksgiving in Hawaii, what a treat - I'd love to go there some day.
    Have a great celebration with your family.
    Judith

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  12. A perfect post to share gratitude! Your family is wonderful and the kids are totally adorable. The luau
    party is over the top ~ I know she loved it!

    Hope you have a wonderful week and the happiest Thanksgiving ever ~

    xo
    Pat

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  13. What a lovely post !!...great birthday party !! what a sweetie.....love from me...xxx..

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  14. ALOHAAAAAAAAAA! What a fabulous place to spend Thanksgiving with the entire family, Jacqueline! We stayed at the Kaanapali Alii one year & I can STILL remember waking up to the sound of the surf.
    You are truly blessed to be able to do so & just think....two more babies to add to the excitement! What a cute way to tell you, too.

    The birthday girl had to be over the moon at her Hawaiian Luau party. Spectacular job of decorating & making her feel extra special. She is the same age as my sweet Caroline & even looks a bit like her, too. Such a FUN age!

    Enjoy the sand & the surf, Honey & ~~safe travel vibes~~ to bring you back home.
    Happy Thanksgiving!

    fondly,
    Rett

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  15. Congratulations on your new grandbabies to come, what looks like a fantastic birthday party (the grass skirts are adorable), AND a dream Thanksgiving trip. You are truly blessed.

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  16. Jacqueline, Your grandchildren are adorable! They are truly fortunate to have you as their grandmother. What memories you are creating! I love the seascape cake too. Enjoy Hawaii!
    Hugs, Beth

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  17. Wow, blessings upon blessings! Congratulations!!!

    Hope you had a very Happy Thanksgiving!

    :)
    Patricia

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  18. Riches! All those babies, you lucky Grandma!
    I hope your Maui Thanksgiving was every bit as happy as it looks.

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  19. Hi Jacqueline,

    What a fabulous Thanksgiving!!
    Everything is just beautiful...
    Have a great time!
    I'am your newest follower!
    Happy to be following you...
    All the Best,
    Christine

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  20. You are blessed. I loved the baby announcements. What a perfect place to spend with the entire family and then to have a birthday celebration with so much detail before you went, you will need a rest to regroup for the holidays. Hope you had a great time.

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  21. Now I am jealous and hungry! That party food has my mouth watering! Looks like you landed in paradise. Enjoy your vacation, and congrats on the baby news!

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  22. What a warm and wonderful Thanksgiving getaway! I can almost taste the sand :) Congratulations on the new babies!

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  23. Congratulations on the new babies-to-be! You did a fantastic job on the luau, and the Nutter Butter flip flops were so cool! I'm glad you had a great time! That sounds like a Thanksgiving I would enjoy!

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  24. Congrats on the expected arrivals!! The luau looks adorable AND yummy and the cake is GORGEOUS. But my sympathies that you had to spend the holiday in Hawaii...so sorry!! ;-)

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  25. What a lovely post! The little ones are adorable and great party food.
    Happy Thanksgiving!
    Hope to see you on my blog:)

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  26. What a lovely post! The little ones are adorable and great party food.
    Happy Thanksgiving!
    Hope to see you on my blog:)

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  27. Woah, this looks totally luxurious! What an incredible place to celebrate Thanksgiving. The food looks gorgeous and it would have been lovely to spend with family.

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  28. What a great post. Such wonderful time with your family in such an amazing place. I love your creativity.

    - The Tablescaper

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  29. Congratulations! These are wonderful news. :) What a beautiful party and tablescape you had there. Yes, so perfect for the pre-Hawaii trip. Hope you're had a great time in Hawaii and a blessed Thanksgiving.

    Amy

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  30. This was a wonderful post. I just love it when bloggers share their love & joy of family. Sounds like you had a wonderful Hawaiian Thanksgiving! And that b-day party was fantastic -- love that idea! Also, congrats on the new little ones!
    CAS

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  31. Jacqueline, you are totally amazing! These photos from the hotel to the party to the individual "sandy" shots are over the top. I'm so happy that you have a beautiful family. They are lucky indeed!

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  32. What a fun family celebration! What a great birthday menu...I loved seeing all the pretty pics of the food & your dear darlings. You are blessed indeed!!

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  33. What a fun time with a beautiful family! CONGRATS on two more grandbabies! Blessings abound!

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