Every year I wait. I wait for the sweet smell of a Douglas fir with presents all around. I wait for the chance to dress the Christmas tree in its annual outfit of ornaments and lights. I wait for Christmas.
Christmas is one of the best times to make memories, while giving and receiving gifts. Whether I get the gifts I asked for or not, I always have the greatest time during the Christmas season.
Last year, my aunty from Seattle and my uncle from Oahu both made the journey to North Kohala, a small town on the Big Island. Along with my uncle, his wife and my two cousins decided to join my family for Christmas. Since my papa knew there would be lots of people over, he planned for Christmas to be the first attempt at making an imu as a family.
The making of an imu is very tedious, with the instructions being passed down verbally through the generations. It was important for Hawaiians to make imus because it was there main method of cooking meats and steaming vegetables. These days, an imu is primarily made for the cultural benefit rather than necessity for cooking.
Before the actual imu was dug, my dad and I made an off-road trip to the beach to gather rocks for the imu. The rocks were about the size of a softball with little pores all around. The purpose of the rocks is to retain heat from the fire in order to cook the food.
After gathering the rocks, we started to dig the hole for the imu. The hole was only around three feet deep and five feet in diameter, but digging the imu was enjoyable. I think the hole was fun to dig because I wanted to show my dad and papa that I was a man. So, I dug fast and made no complaints.
When we were finally finished the imu, my dad and papa both carried the pork butt we chose to cook for Christmas and placed it in the imu. After covering the pork butt in banana leaves and ti leaves, we shoveled the dirt back in the hole; thus, completing the imu.
Christmas arrived 15 hours later, and so did the pork. The kalua pig, as we call it, was so tender and juicy that everyone grabbed seconds. Everyone but me that is. I grabbed thirds.