On Saturday morning at 8 AM, I pick up a cup of coffee and happily make a video call to Korea. But the signal just keeps ringing, and no one picks up. Of course, at 8 AM in Hawaii, it's 3 AM in Korea.

I've made this mistake before. So, with the holidays approaching, I decided to create a system. Calls made on a whim often don't last long.

First, let's clarify the numbers. Hawaii is UTC-10, and Korea is UTC+9. This means Korea is 19 hours ahead.

There's good news too. Neither Hawaii nor Korea observes daylight saving time. So this 19-hour difference remains constant throughout the year.

People on the mainland have to recalculate the time difference every March and November. In this regard, Hawaii is definitely more convenient.

The mental math is simple. Subtract 5 hours from Hawaii time and add a day to get Korea time. For example, when it's 3 PM on Saturday in Hawaii, it's 10 AM on Sunday in Korea.

Now, let's look at some options. 1 PM on Saturday in Hawaii is 8 AM on Sunday in Korea. While it's fine for the elders, the siblings are likely still asleep.

3 PM in Hawaii is 10 AM in Korea. This is right after breakfast, so the faces from Korea will be the most relaxed.

5 PM in Hawaii is noon in Korea. If there's a lunch appointment, it might be a bit tight.

At 7 PM in Hawaii, it's 2 PM in Korea. After dinner, it's fine to walk, so this schedule works for families with tight plans.

If it were me, I would set 3 PM on Saturday in Hawaii as the fixed slot. It's the weekend for both sides, and no one has to strain themselves. Weekday evenings are difficult for working family members in Korea since it's already the next day.

If the mainland family is included, let's calculate based on winter. 3 PM in Hawaii is 5 PM in LA and 8 PM in New York. This is a rare time when all four can meet without difficulty.

However, when the mainland switches to daylight saving time in March, it becomes 6 PM in LA and 9 PM in New York. At that time, just double-check with the mainland.

There's a common pitfall that many overlook. It's about which side you base the date on.

For example, the first Sunday of August 2027 is August 1 in Korea. So in Hawaii, it's Saturday, July 31. If you set it as "the first Saturday of every month," Hawaii will see August 7, which misaligns the week.

Therefore, the rule should be to set the date based on Korea. It should be easy for the elders to remember, so it lasts longer. "The first Sunday of every month at 10 AM" is all it takes.

When entering it into Google Calendar, make sure to set the time zone to Seoul for recurring events. Then it will automatically display in Hawaii time on my calendar. This eliminates the need for mental calculations.

You can choose an app based on your family composition. KakaoTalk group video calls can accommodate up to 10 participants according to Kakao's announcement. It's the most familiar for Korean elders, so I recommend this as a default.

FaceTime works well when both sides have Apple devices. If there are family members using Galaxy, I wouldn't insist on it.

Be sure to check the time limits for apps that gather via links. Free Google Meet allows calls with more than 3 people for up to 60 minutes, and this limit applies to the host's account, not the participants.

Zoom's free plan states that calls with more than 3 people will be cut off after 40 minutes. Pricing conditions may change, so please check the official page before starting.

It's best to prepare the elders in advance. Post the time briefly in the family KakaoTalk group a day before the call. If the explanation is too long, they won't read it.

Getting a phone stand for them can also be very effective. We've all experienced video calls where only the ceiling or chin is visible. It may seem trivial, but it changes the atmosphere of the conversation.

It's also good to set a slight agenda. Wrap it up within 30 minutes, with each person sharing updates for 2 minutes. It's better to do it frequently than to make it long.

I also calculated the schedule for this year's holidays in advance. For Christmas, calling at 3 PM on Thursday, December 24 in Hawaii will be 10 AM on Friday, December 25 in Korea. Since it's a public holiday in Korea, it's a great time for everyone to gather.

For New Year's greetings, 5 PM on December 31 in Hawaii is ideal. In Korea, it's noon on January 1, 2027, which is time for eating rice cake soup. To match the midnight countdown in Korea, you'd have to wake up at 5 AM in Hawaii, but I will pass on that.

Don't forget to mark Lunar New Year on your calendar as well. The Lunar New Year in 2027 is Sunday, February 7 in Korea. Calling at 3 PM on Saturday, February 6 in Hawaii will roughly align with the time for New Year's greetings.

To summarize, here's the order: Set the time once, and align the date based on Korea. Enter it into the calendar as a recurring event and notify the KakaoTalk group the day before, and you're done.

Even if you have the intention, without a system, things can fall through the cracks. No one else will take care of family matters for you. This year, try to secure the first slot before December arrives.