What is surely Honolulu's biggest non-commercial public gathering gets even bigger this year as the city's Honolulu City Lights celebrates not only the holiday season but the city's centennial celebration.

This is truly a community event, where folks from all over the island come together to marvel at the lights and decorations, enjoy the entertainment and get into the holiday spirit.

With so many of us immersed in our own, busy lives, it's refreshing to see that there is at least one event each year that brings us together as a community — keiki, tutu and everyone in between — simply to relish the sheer joy of the season.

Opening ceremonies begin at 6 p.m. Saturday at Honolulu Hale. A second kickoff is set for a week later, Dec. 10, at the city's facilities in Kapolei.

During the energy crisis of the 1970s, the lights were understandably dimmed and a little bit of heart went out of Honolulu. They're back now, brighter and better than ever.

Enjoy.