Holiday Tree Trimming

It is Christmas Eve here in Hawaii.  In Europe, it is the night when the Christmas tree is decorated.  We thought we would introduce you to some tree trimming, Hawaii style.

This coconut palm belongs to our next-door neighbor.  We always thought it would be romantic to live under such a tree, but there are hazards.  The coconuts can be dangerous if they fall on your car, your house, or, heaven forbid, your head.  So, a few days ago, it was time to trim the tree - literally.

There are people here in Hawaii who make a living trimming palm trees. They climb up the trees with spikes on their boots - like climbing a telephone pole. Instead of electrical tools, they carry hooks, saws, and an impressive machete. Their job is to trim old or loose palm branches,

and to take off the big clusters of coconuts, like the one that you can see here.

The coconut clusters are secured with a rope, cut loose with a machete, and then lowered carefully to the ground.

Here is another tree guy clearing off the palm branches.  They are really big, and heavier than we thought.  We asked what sort of specialized training it took to be a coconut trimmer.  He said that being an English major seemed to have worked well for him.

As for us, given the recent knee surgery, we decided to scale back this year, so this is our tree... complete with Linus' blanket and one red ornament.  Charlie Brown was good at simplification!

MELE KALIKIMAKA