Parade road closures finalized
| • | Map: The Honolulu City Lights annual parade |
By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer
The city has finalized plans for road closures downtown during the annual Honolulu City Lights Parade on Dec. 6, hoping to avoid the problems created for residents and businesses last year when access was cut off to parking garages, restaurants and theaters.
Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser
Last year the city extended the parade route to 'A'ala Park and closed King Street and all mauka-makai streets, but didn't inform residents about the restrictions. From 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. there was gridlock downtown.
Alex "Alika" Medeiros, lead mason for the Board of Water Supply, sets up Christmas decorations at Honolulu Hale. The annual Honolulu City Lights Parade Dec. 6 will end at Honolulu Hale, where decorated service vehicles will be on display.
This year, the city has set up an elaborate plan to both provide access and allow the parade to continue its extended route starting in Chinatown at 6 p.m. and ending at Honolulu Hale.
Starting at 5 p.m. North King Street, from Liliha Street in Kalihi to South Street in Kaka'ako will be closed to allow parade participants time to prepare. Traffic will be detoured.
At 5:45 p.m. mauka-makai streets downtown between River and Punchbowl streets will be closed altogether or detoured to allow drivers to reach public garages. The city suggests that people arrive before 5 p.m. to avoid traffic problems.
Buses will be detoured from King Street to Hotel Street that evening and information will be posted at TheBus stops.
The parade, co-sponsored by the city and Hawaiian Electric Co., will feature city vehicles decorated with holiday lights and special decorations. Among the units will be several fire vehicles, the refuse collection truck, an ambulance, lawn mowers, a bus, the zoo train and other service vehicles. Fifteen high school bands will also participate. The first vehicle will reach Honolulu Hale around 6:30 p.m. where Christmas decorations are set up.
• What: The annual Honolulu City Lights Public Workers Electric Light Parade. • When: 6 p.m. Dec. 6 • Where: Starting at River Street and South King Street and ending at Honolulu Hale. • Cost: Free.
After the parade, the vehicles will remain on King Street in front of Honolulu Hale until 8:15 p.m. so children and their families can see the decorated "work-a-day" vehicles up close.
At a glance
Downtown Neighborhood Board Chairwoman Lynne Matusow attended a meeting with police and city transportation officials in October to go over details of the parade plans.
Matusow asked that traffic be allowed to cross King Street at Nu'uanu and Alakea streets intermittently during the parade and the city agreed. She also asked that downtown streets be "progressively closed" as the parade approached and reopened as soon as possible after the parade passed by.
"Last year was a fiasco," Matusow said. "But all the things we had asked to be done seem to be in there right now. I think we will be OK."
Several events and restaurants downtown suffered from no-shows last year, and again this year several events are planned on the same night, including the Jim Nabors Christmas show at the Hawai'i Theatre and Honolulu Theatre for Youth's Christmas talk story program at Tenney Theatre.
For the first time this year, the Fort Street Business Improvement District will decorate its palm and orchid trees with Christmas lights for its Fort Street Light Night.
From 3 to 8 p.m. in the area near King Street there will be an arts and crafts fair, Santa Claus will be on hand to talk with children and an electric train will be set up. The mall buildings will be decorated and Christmas carolers will stroll through the area.
Outdoor dining will be available and a food drive to benefit the Hawai'i FoodBank will be set up.
Several parking garages will offer $2 all-day parking including Macy's, Pioneer Plaza and the Topa Tower.
"The mall has a different face and the public is welcome to come down, and there are things to do," said improvement district president Chris Nakashima-Heise. "We want to keep putting positive stuff onto the mall so it will attract people and create new activities."
Reach James Gonser at jgonser@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2431.
Correction: Downtown Neighborhood Board Chairwoman Lynne Matusow asked that traffic be allowed to cross King Street at Nu'uanu and Alakea streets intermittently during the Dec. 6 City Lights Parade and the city agreed. Incorrect information was given in a previous version of this story.
