Posted on: Thursday, November 22, 2001
Dec. 1 festivities to open Honolulu City Lights
By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer
The city promises more lights and a patriotic theme at the 17th annual 2001 Honolulu City Lights celebration that starts Dec. 1 and runs through Jan. 2.
The celebration's opening on the civic center grounds will offer entertainment and food booths. The corridor of lights will be extended makai with additional Restaurant Row displays. Bank of Hawaii will have a new downtown display.
On Dec. 1, activities will start at 3 p.m. with an Island Rhythm Concert and food sales at Sky Gate, followed by a special holiday service at 5 p.m. at Kawaiaha'o Church.
Opening ceremonies will start at 6 p.m. with the Brothers Cazimero performing "Honolulu City Lights" and a medley of Christmas music. Later all of downtown will be illuminated simultaneously as Mayor Jeremy Harris turns on the lights of the city's 55-foot Norfolk Island pine.
Harris said crowds can look forward to "another specular show" with the lights, the parade, marching bands, floats and the concert.
"But what sets this event apart from the others is the patriotic theme that will be unmistakably present throughout the month-long celebration."
After the lighting of the Christmas tree, the Public Workers Electric Light Parade will pass in front of Honolulu Hale. Marching bands from 'Aiea, Baldwin, Castle, Farrington, Iolani, Kahuku, Kailua, Leilehua, Nanakuli and Wai'anae high schools will be joined by the Royal Hawaiian Band, Holy Family Academy musicians and the Dole Middle School Band.
More than 35 floats are expected to participate in the parade.
Santa will arrive at Sky Gate at about 7:30 p.m. to hear children's Christmas wishes until 9 p.m. Commemorative ornaments and special T-shirts will also be sold on the grounds.
A two-hour holiday concert will round out the evening's entertainment, with performances by Na Hoku Hanohano Award winners Maunalua, Colón, DisGuyz, Tino & The Rhythm Klub, Anelaikalani, Reign, Marty Dread and Moke Boy.
Highlights of the Honolulu City Lights tree-lighting ceremony, parade and concert will be cable-cast on Channel 54 on Dec. 1 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and will be shown after the KITV-4 evening news from about 7 to 8 p.m.
The celebration will continue nightly through Jan. 2. The city's Employees' Christmas Tree Exhibit and Holiday Wreath Display inside Honolulu Hale may be viewed from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily on except New Year's Eve.
Special entertainment will be presented nightly in the Honolulu Hale courtyard.
