Splendor of 'Lights'

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

This year's "Honolulu City Lights" display at Honolulu Hale will be the 20th annual holiday event. With "20 Years of Sparkle" as this year's theme, "Lights" will showcase the customary treats — an opening-night parade, a display of wreaths and a wonderland of lighted displays through the heart of downtown Honolulu. Advertiser library photo

Chad Gonzales, left, and Jesus Fuentes, both city maintenance painters, inspect one of the oversized Christmas cards they painted for the "Honolulu City Lights" festivities. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

Shaka Santa and Tutu Mele reign over the "Honolulu City Lights" extravaganza in front of Honolulu Hale on King Street. Opening festivities on Saturday will include an electric light parade. Advertiser library photo

Look for these oversized elves on the grounds of Honolulu Hale. Advertiser library photo

With "20 Years of Sparkle" as this year's theme, "Honolulu City Lights" will showcase the customary treats — an opening-night parade, a display of wreaths and a wonderland of lighted displays through the heart of downtown Honolulu. The displays will be on view through New Year's, closing Jan. 2.

Owen Ho, design consultant for the annual endeavor since 1989, when the Shaka Santa figure made its debut, says it's year-round fun to plan, design and create the holiday displays.

"We try to see what other people are doing, at Mainland trade shows, but we always stay ahead of the times," said Ho. "We keep the event geared to kids (and family) and we strive for the homemade craft look, rather than commercial displays that you would get (from ordering through Mainland suppliers)."

Ho said the task is a 12-month foray into brainstorming and planning. In April and May of each year, there are trade shows that market seasonal trims and dÚcor.

"When I was in San Francisco, oversized bells were large," he said of a likely motif across America this season. "This could be because of the Olympics, or the presidential elections, I'm not sure."

But he latched on to the notion of doing pop-up cards from a concept he's adapting from MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) in San Francisco.

"It's simple and it's graphic, so we decided to go that route," Ho said of the new twinkle at this year's event. "We're leaning more to a Hallmark type of painting, making it a little more modern."

The card subjects are Shaka Santa (1989), shown gliding on a surfboard (with his reindeer in motion); Mrs. Santa Claus, also called Tutu Mele (1994), shown coming to Honolulu and decked out in mu'umu'u and lei, and carrying a suitcase; the Snow Family (1991), modeled after then-mayor Frank Fasi (a pipe-smoker) and wife Joyce (who was noted for wearing haku lei); and the display's first Christmas tree (1985), which featured white dove ornaments.

The cards range in size from 8 by 16 feet to 12 by 10 feet. They will be displayed on the city lawn, near the City Hall Annex Building (the red brick facility) facing King Street.

The card collection could be expanded in future years, too, depending on whim and budget.

As usual, the "City Lights" displays involve a family of elves from the city ranks.

"The cards are being made by crews at the Board of Water Supply, Facilities Maintenance and Environmental Services," said Carol Costa, city director of customer service. Each display has support from corporate sponsors: Aon Risk Services, Fuji Film Hawai'i, Aston ResortQuest Hawai'i and Pizza Hut.

New ornaments are installed every third year, so next year's tree likely will boast a new look.

Owen said a commemorative 20th-year ornament will be on this year's tree. Ornaments range from as large as 48 inches down to the "normal" size of 12 inches — deliberately oversized to match the 63-foot height of the Norfolk pine tree, donated from the yard of Robert and Marie Weller's Keolu Hills home in Kailua.

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

Holiday parade, show signal heavy traffic

So city officials are advising those heading for any of the Saturday attractions to arrive early.

The Honolulu City Lights Public Workers Electric Light Parade is set to start at 6 p.m. at King and River streets, near 'A'ala Park, and move along King Street, with the first parade units arriving by 6:30 p.m. near City Hall, where "Honolulu City Lights" gets under way. The parade may continue for another 30 to 60 minutes.

Certain streets will be closed during the parade, so motorists heading for the downtown/Chinatown area are advised to arrive before 5 p.m.

Special traffic controls will be in place to allow access to downtown parking for those heading for "A Merry Christmas with Friends and Nabors," 7:30 p.m. at the Hawai'i Theatre.

Showgoers generally park at Marks Garage, Macy's and the Chinatown Gateway parking lots; there also is a municipal city lot below Smith Beretania Park, with access into the garage from Beretania Street.

At 5:45 p.m., makai-bound traffic on Maunakea Street and Nu'uanu Avenue from Beretania Street will be detoured eastbound on to Pauahi Street. Bethel Street will be converted into a two-way street between Pauahi and the Macy's parking lot driveway. If needed, there will be a break in the parade and traffic will be allowed to go makai on Nu'uanu Avenue to Nimitz Highway. Smith Street will be closed makai of Pauahi Street. Bishop Street will become two-way between Beretania Street and the Executive Centre parking lot driveway.

Bus stops on King Street will be temporarily moved to Hotel Street; see posted signs at TheBus stops for relocation information.

The parade is co-sponsored by the city, the Friends of Honolulu City Lights, Hawaiian Electric Co., AAA Hawai'i and Cutter Chevrolet.

The parade boasts city vehicles decorated with holiday lights and special decorations. Among the units will be several fire vehicles, a refuse collection truck, an ambulance, the new E-Transit bus, the zoo train, a dump truck and more. Fifteen high school bands also will participate.

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 vehicles up close.

'HONOLULU CITY LIGHTS'

• Opening at 6 p.m. Saturday
• Honolulu Hale (City Hall)
• Free

Among the attractions:

• "City Lights" display, through Jan. 2
• City Hall courtyard wreath and decorations display, through 11 p.m. daily through Jan. 2
• Parade, starting 6 p.m. Saturday from King and River streets; first units are expected to arrive at City Hall by 6:30 p.m.
• Holiday concerts, from 7:30 p.m. Saturday, featuring The Liberty Belles (former Miss Hawai'is in a patriotic holiday salute), Jordan Segundo, Maila Gibson, a special guest artist and All-4-One

Ornaments

"Lei of Smiles," this year's Honolulu City Lights keepsake ornament, depicts Santa and Tutu Mele, forming a lei with six smiling Island keiki.

The Friends of Honolulu City Lights have been producing an annual ornament since 2000 to help defray costs of producing the city holiday extravaganza.

The metallic ornament retails for $16, or $19 if ordered through the Friends (the cost includes handling and shipping). It has been sold at craft fairs (along with the previous four editions) and also is available at all Macy's stores, Borders at Waikele and Ward Centre, and at the Honolulu City Lights store at Ala Moana Center.

Mail orders should be directed to Friends of Honolulu City Lights, P.O. Box 8877, Honolulu, HI 96830, or online at www.honolulucitylights.org.