Posted on: Friday, December 21, 2001

Kaimuki group preserves holiday icon

By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer

Kaimuki almost had to do without its famous electric-light Christmas tree this year after some of its wires were deemed unsafe. But a business group got the tree repaired. Eugene Tanner • the Honolulu Advertiser

How could Santa Claus find his way to Kaimuki this year without the big electric-light Christmas tree perched on the hill behind the fire station?

Every Christmas since the mid-1980s, the 30-foot tall tree made entirely of green lights has been a holiday beacon for residents in the area and for everyone driving by on the freeway. On a clear night it could be seen from as far away as Hawai'i Kai and Makakilo.

But this year there were problems.

"City crews have assembled the metal poles and strung the lights every year, but this year they were short staffed and the wires were deemed unsafe so they decided not to put them up," said Ginny Meade, a member of the Greater East Honolulu Community Alliance.

"Leonard Tam started a campaign to get (the tree) repaired and put up. He got the business association to purchase the parts, a couple volunteers to screw and unscrew bulbs and made sure everything works."

Tam said the tree is usually turned on for the first time after the Kaimuki Christmas parade, which was held Dec. 6 this year.

"Kids have grown up seeing this tree, and a lot of people expressed disappointment on the night of the Christmas parade when it wasn't there," said Tam. "People looked up and there was no tree. It is a landmark, and a lot of people really look forward to it."

Rep. Mindy Jaffe, R-19th (Waikiki, Kaimuki, Diamond Head), said she got dozens of calls from constituents asking what happened.

"I was amazed to see how many people missed it and took the time and trouble to call me to find out," Jaffe said.

Responsibility for the maintenance and repairs of the tree has changed hands over the years and is currently with the Kaimuki Business and Professional Association. The group provided about $200 to put the tree in working order.

Tam said the steel cables that shape the tree needed to be replaced and there were other minor repairs.

On Monday, everything came together. The lights were working, new cables ready and several city crews returned to the site with their cherry pickers. The work was completed in one day, and tree was turned on again that night.

Meade said you often don't know how important something is until its gone.

"This has started people talking about how to revive other the old Christmas traditions," Meade said. "This has spurred the idea for a Christmas tree fund, and we are hoping that by next year we will have Christmas decorations all along Wai'alae Avenue.

"The spirit is there, and this tree seems to be the symbol for it all."

Reach James Gonser at jgonser@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2431.