A display of patriotism: Honolulu City Lights goes red, white and blue
• Parade in Waikiki to be first
• Food, music kick off opening day
By James Gonser
Advertiser Staff Writer
 |
| Scott Coleman, bottom left; Neil Yamashiro, top left; Hilton Lau, bottom center; and Bobby Shintani, top center, paint a panda that will be used as part of the Honolulu Hale Christmas decorations. The bear on the right is one of the new features this year.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser Honolulu City Lights Honolulu Hale grounds Saturday Free Highlights (details on Page 19): • 3 p.m.: Island Rhythm concert, food booths • 6 p.m.: Opening ceremony; tree-lighting • 6 p.m.: Electric Light Parade begins, passing in front of Honolulu Hale at 6:30 p.m. (also Sunday in Waikiki; see Page 19) • 7:30 p.m.: Santa arrives at Sky Gate; concert The celebration continues nightly through Jan. 2 with holiday entertainment in the Honolulu Hale courtyard (527-5666). The city employees' Christmas tree exhibit and holiday wreath display inside Honolulu Hale may be viewed 8 a.m.-11 p.m. daily, except on New Year's Eve 523-4385 |
The Honolulu City Lights tree-lighting and parade will prominently feature the Stars and Stripes, with splashes of red, white and blue everywhere from lights to ribbons to flag-waving spectators.
Honolulu City Lights coordinator Sherrilyn Kajiwara said after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, officials considered limiting the scope of Christmas events this year but quickly decided the show must go on.
"There was a lot of debate over whether we should even have a celebration of our usual magnitude," Kajiwara said. "We decided that this was something that our city family wanted to do, not only because it is a tradition here and a lot of our island families look forward to it, but we also thought it would help our people to have some sense of assurance that things will go on as they should.
"We then decided to add a little patriotic element to almost everything, and that is our way of paying tribute and honoring the people that are going through such a difficult time."
All the events, from the tree-lighting and light parade to the live entertainment, will include patriotic touches.
The Board of Water Supply's float will be covered with 50 colorful stars and 13 stripes, and the city's Handi-Van will feature ribbons and flags, with toy soldiers riding inside. All the creatures in the Christmas display at Honolulu Hale will sport red, white and blue ribbons this year.
Alex Ching, chief artist and architect of the city's large Christmas displays, said no one should forget the events of Sept. 11, but life must go on.
"The president said to live our lives, and if we don't have our freedom to live normally, then the terrorists have won," Ching said. "Christmas is Christmas. Shop, eat, be merry."
Ching said six new characters have been created for the display this year, joining Santa and Mrs. Claus, the snow family, elves, reindeer and giant gift boxes. Six 9-foot-tall brown bears dressed in colorful military uniforms and standing on drums will make their debut at the event, which starts Saturday.
"They were going to be holding swords and guns, but we changed it, thinking we should tone down the strong military theme, and now the bears are holding candy canes, Christmas trees and bugles," Ching said.
This year's parade sponsor, Hawaiian Electric Co., has created its own 40-foot float, built by company employees. The all-American float will have have a red, white and blue color scheme and feature special guests singing "God Bless America" and a selection of Christmas songs.
"Because of everything that has happened, it is especially important now to show the spirit of Christmas and brighten up everyone's spirits," said HECO spokeswoman Pepi Nieva. "It will provide a bit of joy and happiness to everyone."
Also bridging the theme of Christmas and patriotism is the vocal group DisGuyz, which will perform its latest hit, "Our Nation In Song."
DisGuyz composer/singer Jason Lent said the song is a call for unity for Americans and has helped many come to grips with Sept. 11.
Kajiwara said 50,000 people are expected to attend this year's celebration, and security will be increased for their protection.
"So many people are looking for a wholesome activity to bring the families together," Kajiwara said. "Will have extra security, but it will be behind-the-scenes surveillance and plain-clothes officers watching over everything."
• • •
The Honolulu City Lights public employee Electric Light Parade, sponsored by Hawaiian Electric Co., will be staged two days this year — Saturday downtown and Sunday in Waikiki.
The parade will feature more than 20 vehicles, including a garbage truck, a city bus, a Handi-Van, an ambulance, fire engines and a beach rescue truck with jet-powered watercraft.
Saturday's parade starts at 6 p.m. at Richards and Beretania streets and follows a half-mile route through the downtown business district on South King Street, ending at Honolulu Hale about 6:30 p.m.
At the end of the parade, the vehicles will park on King Street near the Municipal Building from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. for close-up viewing.
The Sunday parade will be the first of its kind in Waikiki.
The Street Bikers United Toy Run 2001, which features 3,000 motorcycles and classic cars, starts at 4 p.m. at the Hawai'i Convention Center, moving down Kalakaua Avenue. The Electric Light Parade will follow at about 6 p.m.
• • •
Food, music kick off opening day
The 17th annual Honolulu City Lights celebration starts Saturday 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.
Saturday's activities will start at 3 p.m. with an Island Rhythm concert and food sales at Sky Gate. Kawaiaha'o Church will offer a service at 5 p.m.
The opening ceremony will start at 6 p.m. with The Brothers Cazimero performing "Honolulu City Lights" and a medley of Christmas music. All of downtown will be illuminated simultaneously as Mayor Jeremy Harris turns on the lights of the city's 55-foot Norfolk Island pine.
After the lighting of the Christmas tree, the public employees Electric Light Parade will pass in front of Honolulu Hale. Marching bands from around the Islands and more than 35 floats are expected to participate.
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 be sold on the grounds.
A two-hour holiday concert will round out the evening's entertainment, with performances by Maunalua, Col—n, 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 Saturday 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 lights display will continue nightly through Jan. 2. The city employees Christmas tree exhibit and holiday wreath display inside Honolulu Hale may be viewed 8 a.m.-11 p.m. daily, except New Year's Eve.
Entertainment will be presented nightly in the Honolulu Hale courtyard. Call 527-5666 for details.
Parking in the civic center parking garage is free weekdays from 4:30 p.m. and on weekends and holidays from Saturday through Jan. 2.
More parking is available in the state Kalanimoku Building garage.
