Imu Thanksgiving

Last year we were invited to cook our Thanksgiving turkey in an underground oven the Hawaiians call an "imu", but because we were unfamiliar with this type of cooking, we decided not to participate.  It was something we've regretted ever since.  So this year, we wanted to have the full imu experience.  Imus are the traditional way Polynesian island people have cooked their food for centuries.  Today they use the same techniques, and also employ modern methods to get a big fire going faster.  To get our turkey ready, we needed to start our preparations well in advance.  We wanted to brine the bird first, so we improvised by placing it in a 5-gallon bucket with a salty solution  with spices and citrus and letting it sit overnight on Tuesday before dropping it off on Wednesday to be cooked.   When we arrived on Wednesday, what we saw was amazing.  This was no small event, they used a backhoe to dig a pit and load it with wood and lava rocks, and leaf blowers to fan the flames to make it a flaming inferno.  We covered our turkey pan in several layers of aluminum foil and left it to be placed in the ground along with another 50-60 turkeys, some pork and other items they like to cook overnight.  The meat was covered by layers of banana leaves and tree stumps, ti leaves, a tarp and lastly a thick covering of dirt.  The heated lava rocks thoroughly cook the meat at an even temperature. 

The imu starts as a roaring flame in a large pit

A layer of crushed bamboo stalks is the next step after the rocks are ready.

The final layer before the pit is covered with dirt are ti leaves to hold in heat and moisture

We returned the next morning to retrieve our turkey and deliver three of the cooked birds to families in the ward.  We loved the taste of the meat, it's smoky and very tender.  Plus, knowing the many steps that went into its preparation made it even more special for us.  We will always have fond memories of this Thanksgiving, because we got to see for ourselves how the holiday is celebrated in Hawaii.  

The missionaries in Kaneohe were allowed to have some games and activities together with the Mililani zone on Thanksgiving, and we were asked to help show an inspirational movie called "The Fighting Preacher" in the evening.  It's about Willard and Rebecca Bean, who were called to serve a mission together at the Smith farm in Palmyra, and how their family overcame prejudice and hostility to help establish the church there and purchase important historical sites. Before the movie started, Sister Mundell had each of them share something about Thanksgiving  and played a fun game called "Are You Most Like a Turkey?" Afterward, we had a testimony meeting, which was the best part of the entire day for us.  We felt the spirit very strongly as they bore their testimonies.  We love hearing what is in the hearts of these special young elders and sisters.  As senior couples, we're counseled to be seen and not heard, but Elder Mundell wanted to share the experience he had this past week of getting a phone call from a man whom he'd baptized 45 years ago, and testifying of the impact their missionary efforts can have on hundreds of people in future generations.  

We went to the north shore of Oahu on Friday because a high surf advisory had been issued, and we wanted to see some huge waves.  We weren't disappointed, it was a nice afternoon and we got to see a few brave souls try their luck surfing the big curls.  It's hard to describe, but there's a different roaring sound to the crashing waves when the surf is up that we find very relaxing.  We are in awe of the power in nature, and we're grateful we had the opportunity to see some big waves this weekend. 

This is what the surf was like at Bonzai Pipeline Friday afternoon, this is a 20 ft wave.