12 things to know as you take in the 'Lights' sights
| • | Elfin magic, dedication light up the city |
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
When the mayor flicks on the switch to turn on Honolulu City Lights Saturday night, there will be a few new wrinkles and a string of traditional twinkles.
Here are 12 elements that you might want to know as you explore the delights of the displays:
1. Singing tree offers mele time
A "Singing Christmas Tree," with decorations reflecting this year's theme, "Na Mele Kalikimaka (The Songs of Christmas)," boasts ornaments depicting musical notes, sheet music, instruments and jingling bells. Listen closely, and you'll hear the tree "sing" songs of the yuletide.
2. "Carol trees" will hold court
The courtyard tree displays, inside City Hall, will depict specific themes linked to popular carols. For example, the managing director's office will sponsor a tree with a "Silver Bells" theme, with decorations by Nu'uanu Elementary School students, honoring former student Dara Rei Onishi, who died tragically when a boulder fell onto her family home. Students had worked with Onishi on another Christmas tree four years ago and with students in Japan, where Onishi had been teaching. City departments and divisions get a free tree and a small stipend to decorate; many hold bake sales to raise more money to buy more materials.
3. An automotive coat of paint
The holiday decorations this year sport a spanking new paint job thanks to Alex Ching, who works for the city's parks and recreation department. Ching paints autos as a hobby, came across Omni paint (usually used on vehicles, for that long-lasting gloss), and gave the holiday displays a paint job that heightens the color. That means everything from the oversized alphabet blocks to the smiling Shaka Santa has a glossier look this year.
4. Keep your eyes on the parade
The Electric Light Parade will begin at 6 p.m. and proceed on King Street toward City Hall. Nelson Fujio is the chief parade coordinator, working with city employee Eddie Oi. About 12 bands and 36 decorated and lighted vehicles will make the trek, reaching City Hall at 6:25 p.m. to coincide with the lighting of the tree.
5. Local grinds and more ...
If you get hungry, there will be food and liquid refreshments from 3 p.m. Saturday till closing in the City Hall area. Vendors include Pizza Hut (who will return again Sunday and the rest of the run), plus Quick Stop Foods (burgers, fish and chips, corndogs); Shiggy's Delicacy (friend noodles, musubi, bento); Lil' Audry's (shave ice, rootbeer float, cotton candy); Alysandra's Filipino Food (lumpia, peas and pork, adobo, mochi), Molly's Smokehouse Texas Style BBQ (chicken, ribs, pork plates and sandwiches); Marion's Catering (Asian plates, Hawaiian plates, combo plates); Simply Ono (menu to be determined); Karen Takesue (saimin, fried ice cream); Nutty Hawaiian (roasted nuts, candy apples, other snacks), A Time to Grind (stew, hamburger steak); Ono Kettle Corn (popcorn, nachos), Quik Stop Foods Hot Dog Cart (franks, Polish sausage).
6. Musical fare for early birds
Folks arriving early (hey, the early birds get the parking spaces) will be able to find a spot on the Civic Center lawn and check out music sets hosted by participating radio stations Krater 95, Hawaiian KINE 105, KCCN FM-100, 104.3 XTREME, Oldies 107.9, 1420 KKEA.
7. More vibes from Uncle Tom
Uncle Tom Moffatt will deliver a free two-hour concert from 7:30 p.m., with Jennifer, Forte, 'Ale'a, Fiji, Jake Shimabukuro, Dita Holifield and Sistah Robi.
Expect everything from pop to soul, from traditional Hawaiian to solo 'ukulele, from hip-hop to country.
8. Santa couple lookin' good
Shaka Santa and Tutu Mele, the kindly bearded gent and his favorite wahine, will assume their place of honor in front of City Hall. The well-photographed couple are big favorites, and big, too. Santa measures 21 feet high from big toe to shaka pinkie; he weighs 3,500 to 4,000 pounds, Tutu weighs in at 3,000 to 3,500 pounds (blame Styrofoam, Fiberglas cloth, adhesives and paint).
9. Boy Choir sings Beamer's song
The Honolulu Boy Choir will render the traditional "Honolulu City Lights" song, composed by Keola Beamer, at 6 p.m. tomorrow at the tree-lighting ceremony.
10. 100,000 lights on simultaneously
Don't ask how, but when Mayor Jeremy Harris flicks on the switch to light up the displays at 6:25 p.m., 100,000 lights will go on simultaneously from the Honolulu Hale site and throughout the downtown area from King to Alapai streets, from Beretania to Bishop streets, and embracing an expanded City Lights "corridor," including Aloha Tower Marketplace, Restaurant Row and The Queen's Medical Center. OK, a secret revealed: Some lights will go on automatically, others manually, when it's time to "go."
11. A tree-mendous search falls short
For the first time this year, the city couldn't find a suitable donor tree for the place of honor at City Hall. Normally, a resident or a business donates a 60-foot tree to take the special spot on the city lawn, but prospects were slim. The city discovered a tree at a Mililani park that was uprooting a fence, so it removed the tree, saving the fence, and providing the right greenery for the centerpiece of Honolulu City Lights. (In other words, it was a tree that was destined to be chopped down anyway, but has a very distinctive duty in its final month of glory.)
12. Get a picture with Santa
Fuji Film will provide free photo-taking with Santa on opening night. So practice smiling, and get your gift wishes ready to recite.
