Elfin magic, dedication light up the city

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Downtown Honolulu and its surrounding area will be a lot brighter tomorrow night, when an estimated 50,000 people are expected to turn out for the 18th annual Honolulu City Lights opening event, which will feature entertainment, food booths, exhibits and the Electric Light Parade. The light displays continue through Jan. 5. Advertiser library photo

Take Barney Isaacs, a facilities maintenance employee with the city. He always leads the crusade to get those strings of lights up on the trees, the buildings and the displays that bring holiday cheer to young and old alike.

"He's the on-site guy who pulls all the crews together," said Carol Costa, the "mother" of Honolulu City Lights, who hopped on the bandwagon the second year of its run. This year's, opening Saturday at City Hall and the downtown corridor, is the 18th annual and her 17th as project director.

"Barney had to have emergency surgery on his gall bladder at St. Francis Hospital," said Costa, who runs the city's information office. "He was disappointed that he couldn't help out — he'll be out for the duration of the set-up period — but he's been talking to his crews from the hospital bed."

Then there's Sheri Kajiwara, coordinator of the event, who works in the city's Neighborhood Commission Office. "She had a baby boy, Jordan, a month ago, but she's been coming in, in spurts here and there, to help out — with the baby in tow. When she told me she was pregnant, I started counting the months, and I said, 'Oh, no,' reacting to the busy time (and the due date). But it just goes to show that people care about this program, doing their best to pitch in, a little bit here, a little bit there."

Costa said she frets throughout the process of illuminating Honolulu Hale and the downtown route that continues to expand the boundaries of the festival. This year, for instance, the reopened A'ala Park will be ablaze in lights, and an Electric Parade will start at the site, traveling diamond head on King Street to City Hall, to signal the start of Honolulu's Christmas season. A crowd of 50,000 is expected for tomorrow night's opening event.

"Until I hear the 'ahhhhhhhs' from the crowd when the lights go on at 6:25 p.m., I will be holding my breath," Costa said.

With growing interest from Aloha Tower Marketplace, Restaurant Row and Chinatown merchants, the two-mile route has been extended considerably, making the City Lights tour by foot a tad more difficult. The display actually includes the Thomas Square area opposite Blaisdell Concert Hall, and extends throughout the Civic Center, to Queen's hospital on Punchbowl Street, to Bishop Street and beyond. Trolley rides will be available for a small fee; wise City Lighters will do a car tour first, then selectively focus in on the major displays at City Hall, the Board of Water Supply and Tamarind Park.

"We're hoping to get the downtown merchants to light up the Fort Street Mall area on King Street, past Macy's, because King Street and Chinatown are part of Honolulu City Lights now," Costa said.

For opening night, there will an array of food vendors and top-notch island entertainment to feed your tummy and your eyes and ears.

Costa recalled how Billie Beamer originated the first display, modest by today's standards.

"Frank Fasi was mayor, and I remember him telling me that this would be a lifetime assignment. 'You'll never be able to pass it on,' he told me, and it's true. What's happened is that as the event got bigger and bigger each year, we've been able to recruit employees like Sheri and Barney."

With all her attention on the citywide holiday glitter, Costa herself does not have a tree at home.

"I'm Christmased out by then," she chuckled.

Reach Wayne Harada at e-mail wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, phone 525-8067 or fax 525-8055.

Honolulu City Lights

Opens Saturday at City Hall and downtown environs and continues through Jan. 5.

• Before the opening: 3-5:30 p.m., concert on the City Hall lawn
• Food booths: 3 p.m. until closing Saturday
• Tree lighting: 6 p.m., with the Honolulu Boy Choir singing "Honolulu City Lights"
• Electric Light Parade: 6 p.m., from A'ala Park heading on King Street to City Hall
• "Singing Christmas Tree": 6:25 p.m., ignited by Mayor Jeremy Harris
• Lights on: 6:25 p.m., all downtown lights will be turned on simultaneously.
• Courtyard exhibits: 6:30 p.m., opening for inspection; viewable thereafter from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily
• Concert: from 7:30 p.m. at Sky Gate area stage
• Trolley rides: Beginning Sunday, through Dec. 30; originating at Ward Warehouse ($2.50 per person; free for kids 3 and younger); call 593-2376
• Train rides: Extreme Fun Rentals will offer train rides for keiki during the weekends; nominal fee.
• Admission: Free (charges for food and rides)
• On TV: 6-10 p.m. on cable Channel 56, live
• Information: 523-2489