Hawaiian Night Before Christmas

At first glance it might be easy to think that this version and the  Native American Night Before Christmas are similar. After all, they are both about Native traditions and contain glossaries. However, this version was created by Carolyn Macy, a white woman from Oklahoma, who, even though she claims to spend half the year in Hawai'i, reduces the characters to stereotypes that are defined by their Otherness. Note, for example, that the gifts the children are given are traditional Hawaiian instruments. In contrast, Old Red Shirt gives the children dolls and baseball gloves.

Hawaiian Night Before Christmas
(Ka Pō Ma Mua O Kalikimaka)
By Carolyn Macy
Gretna,LA: Pelican Pub. Co., 2008
Nancy H. Marshall "A Visit From St. Nicholas" Collection
Rare Book PS3613 .A2834 H38 2008

Hawaiian Night Before Christmas (Ka Pō Ma Mua O Kalikimaka)

The presents Santa gives the children arguably enforce ideas of Otherness, as they are traditional Hawaiian instruments, and not, for example, video games or dolls.

"Paradise is alive in the lush tropical breezes and fragrant plumeria of the Hawaiian Islands. Even here the children ready themselves during the Christmas holiday for the coming of good ol' Saint Nick. Derived from the classic children's poem, this version celebrates the beautiful islands of Hawaii and the traditions of the locals." [Excerpt from inside flap of book]

Hawaiian Night Before Christmas (Ka Pō Ma Mua O Kalikimaka)