Every Christmas for nearly 20 years, Juliet Lighter and her father, Riley, get up before the sunrise and load their surfboards in the car.

The two — he's a single father; she's his only child — drive from their Ha'iku home to Kewalo's.

If their Christmas wish for waves comes true, they paddle out to the lineup and reflect on what Christmas, to them, is really all about.

"To me, I really cherish having him in my life," said Juliet Lighter, 29, who oversees marketing and sales for Hawai'i Family Dental. "This time is really special."

After a couple of hours, they paddle in, grab a plate lunch from Zippy's and head back to Kane'ohe to open gifts.

This pre-dawn surf session has become a family tradition for the Lighters — and one Juliet always looks forward to.

"This is a bond that my dad and I have always shared," she said. "He's the kind of guy who doesn't talk that much, but he's very affectionate and loving. Now that I'm getting older, this time means a lot to me."

Most families have some kind of ritual for the holidays. Some light advent candles or open gifts on Christmas Eve. Others spend Christmas day at the beach or take in a matinee.

Attending midnight church services, serving food at a homeless shelter, watching your niece perform in "The Nutcracker" for the umpteenth time — these can all become family traditions, the kind that can make the holidays that much sweeter.

"I think having traditions are really important," said Juliet Lighter, whose stocking is always stuffed with little gifts — even at 29 — by her father. "It's what really ties a family together. This is a time for bonding ... I look at my dad, being a single parent, raising a daughter, not having too much money. All the struggles and everything we went through, yet he always made a point of making Christmas special for me. That's what I will always forever remember."

BREAKFAST BAR

Christmas morning at the Botelhos in Kane'ohe means one thing: omelets.

For the past 10 years, Mary Lou Botelho has set up an omelet station in her kitchen.

The more than 20 family members who stop by that morning — including 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren — line up for a custom-made omelet.

They put their favorite ingredients — onions, ham, mushrooms, Portuguese sausages, tomatoes — in a small bowl and hand it to one of the cooks.

"I have a large family, so feeding them at one time can be hard," said Botelho, 70, a retired nurse who prepares the ingredients for the omelet bar the night before. "I went to Waialae Country Club one time and they had it. I thought it was fun. The kids can make their own decisions."

Once breakfast is over, the grandkids have one more thing to do before opening gifts.

They have to sing.

"I told them they can't just open their gifts right away," Botelho said, laughing. "They've got to sing a song for Grandma."

At first the kids would sing "Jingle Bells." Now it's the local version of "The 12 Days of Christmas." And usually with their own lyrics.

The grandkids — some who have their own children now — sit in a row on the floor.

They've been doing this so long — maybe 15 years — they don't need to be told anymore.

"As soon as they're done eating, they sit over there and wait," Botelho said. "I don't have to say anything."

Once the presents are all opened — Botelho buys around 80 gifts every year — the family moves into different parts of the house.

One part has all the food, another has a TV for football games. And in the living room is the karaoke machine.

The Botelhos hang here from early morning to late afternoon.

"We have a loving family, a fun family, really," Botelho said. "We're very close ... I love watching them grow up."

BRUNCH AND SURF

For more than 20 years, Brandon Suyeoka has spent Christmas morning with his entire family at a buffet in Waikiki.

Lately, the clan — with about 20 members — has been going to the Oceanarium at the Pacific Beach Hotel.

And that's exactly where they'll all be on Sunday.

"Having this traditional event is important for families like mine because it keeps everyone, including extended family, in touch," said Suyeoka, a 28-year-old account executive at Hendrix Miyasaki Shin Advertising Inc. "What's neat is that I remember having been there every Christmas for as long as I can remember. The tradition is nearly as old as I am."

The younger kids love watching the fish swim in the huge tank in the center of the restaurant.

Suyeoka, though, loves the food.

"They've got an awesome buffet," he raved.

But Suyeoka has another holiday tradition — surfing.

For the past few years, he and his close friend, Natalie Au, have hit the waves on both Christmas and New Year's afternoon.

They usually go to Toes off Kawaikui Beach Park or Tonggs in Waikiki.

"She's pretty much family," Suyeoka said, "so I wouldn't be surprised if she started coming to our Christmas brunch in the future."

This is Suyeoka's time to recharge and reflect on how important family and friends are during the holidays.

Surfing at uncrowded breaks, he said, is just the bonus.

Reach Catherine E. Toth at ctoth@honoluluadvertiser.com.