Hawaiians have been giving thanks long before the pilgrims celebrated their first Thanksgiving at Plymouth Rock. While you’re enjoying a feast with friends and family this season, share some of these Hawaiian Thanksgiving fun facts.

1. The native Hawaiians had an entire season during which they gave thanks for the harvest—Makahiki, which ran four lunar months from November through February.

2. During Makahiki, tribes were prohibited from fighting and celebrated with surfing competitions, boxing, and feasts.

3. King Kamehameha III declared December 31 a national holiday of Thanksgiving as a sign of goodwill between Hawaii and America in 1849—14 years before Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday.

4. Before the American holiday was declared in November, Hawaii already a holiday at the end of the month—La Kuokoa, Hawaiian Independence Day.

5. Modern celebrations in the Islands are a unique blend of native tradition and Turkey Day favorites. From imu turkeys to Thanksgiving Day luaus, no one celebrates Thanksgiving like we do in Hawaii. Happy holidays from all of us at Cutter Automotive Galleries.

Source: Hawai'i Magazine