Posted on: Sunday, November 27, 2005
Holiday lights are here — guide to O'ahu's best
Advertiser Staff
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Santa greets passers-by at Honolulu Hale's annual holiday display.
Advertiser library photo
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The annual display at Honolulu Hale kicks off on Saturday.
Advertiser library photo
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Homes across O'ahu are once again dressed up for the season, and The Advertiser has compiled its annual list of must-see displays. Among the decked-out holiday exhibits:
Downtown — The 21st annual Honolulu City Lights will be on display throughout the downtown area nightly Saturday through Jan. 1.
Kapalama — 1420 Kapalama Ave. Visitors to John and Isabel Silva's home will find a sleigh with lights, penguins, a Hawaiian Santa, a snowman, elves, reindeer, as well as a gingerbread house, gingerbread train, tree and lighted wreath, and a lighted display centered on a nativity scene. The display should be ready by next weekend.
Nu'uanu — 2661 Pu'unui Ave. The Denis' yard and house will be aglow with more than 10,000 lights and displays that include Santa in a chimney on the roof.
Punchbowl — 1553 Miller St. Lindy Franca and family have Santas, snowmen, carolers, Winnie-the-Pooh, a 5-foot wreath, nativity scene and more.
Manoa — 2672 Lowrey Ave. The Allen family continues its holiday decorating tradition that started more than 25 years ago. New this year are a Santa stop sign and a Santa crossing sign. The additions accompany an elf holding a candy cane, a Merry Christmas sign, a 5-foot wreath and more. The display also features more than 50 characters, a nativity scene, several Santas, Frosty, carolers, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy and Snoopy. The family, longtime Blood Bank donors, have also included a "Give the Gift of Life" banner as part of their Christmas message. Hours: 6-9:30 p.m. through New Year's.
McCully — 723 Hau'oli St. A singing snowman and mechanical reindeer are among the attractions at the home of Stanette and Raphael Vares Jr. Back again are animated singing elves, a bear-themed house and gingerbread house, and Santa and Mrs. Claus. Also look for Santa's Christmas Countdown, a mechanical rocking horse, a bow display with working elves, an antique lighted hanging ornament and a nativity scene with choir boys. The display should be ready by next weekend.
McCully — 1928 Young St. Five units at this apartment complex will be decked out with multicolored flashing lights, a snowman, toy soldier, candy canes, gingerbread man, Santa in the sleigh with reindeer, small lighted angels, lighted wreaths, lighted poinsettias, icicle lights, stars and tube lights in red, green, blue and other colors.
Waikiki — 1777 Ala Moana Blvd. Allan Wallace's annual "Allantown" is at the Renaissance Ilikai Waikiki, by the Pacific Ballroom entry. The elaborate Christmas village features dozens of structures and sites. The display will be up through Jan. 1. Wallace also has a display in the lobby of First Hawaiian Bank's Waikiki branch at 2181 Kalakaua Ave. There are five doll houses dressed for Santa's North Pole on the corner of Snow Street and Ice Avenue, Wallace said.
Kapahulu — 854 Lukepane Ave. Roger Mitchell presents his annual display of animated figures: a Hawaiian Santa on the roof, elves, Hawaiian snowman family, a drummer boy, carolers, Santa and Mrs. Claus, Santa on skates, and Santa with a jet plane. There's also a nativity scene, Santa's village, toy soldiers and a Christmas tree. The display should be ready by Thursday.
Kaimuki — 1248 Wilhelmina Rise. Phil Akau has brought back his arrangement of lights, a Santa, Frosty the Snowman, Christmas stocking and other decorations. The display should be ready by next weekend.
Hawai'i Kai — 954 Maniniholo St. Alan Hughgill presents his annual lawn arrangement with reindeer, a nativity scene, snowmen and Santas.
Hawai'i Kai — 530 Kaumakani St. New to Walter M. Tanaka's setup, which includes 7,550 lights, is a 3-foot poinsettia with 250 green and red lights. There's also a Christmas tree with a dozen 2-foot-long green and red light bulbs and a red, white and blue "Support Our Troops" ribbon. This is an addition to the illuminated American flag, doves, Santa's train, bell with a ribbon, wreath, snowman and "Season's Greetings" and "Peace on Earth" signs. The display should be ready by Thursday.
WINDWARD O'AHU
Kailua — 1170 'Akumu St. Mike and Peecee Brede Sr. have decked their home with lots of lights and inflatables to celebrate the holiday season.
Lanikai — 215 Ka'elepulu Drive. For more than 40 years, Richard and Dawn Freeman have treated their neighbors to an elaborate display that includes a waving Santa on their roof, "Roscoe" the 7-foot snowman in their yard and a Christmas village complete with a working train. The living room, kitchen and bedroom windows will also be aglow with various lights and animated figures. The display should be ready by next week.
Kane'ohe — 47-269-F Hui 'Iwa St. This year marks the 11th year of Disney-themed decor at Cliford and Paula Nakaoka's townhouse, which has been nicknamed the Disney House. There are more than 75 Disney plywood cut-outs, including characters from "Chicken Little," "The Nightmare Before Christmas," "The Incredibles," "Home on the Range" and "101 Dalmatians." Disney music will play nightly through the first week of January.
Kane'ohe — 46-201 'Ohala St. Andrea Rodrigues-Gum and her dad, Mel Rodrigues, have nearly two-dozen lighted signs and decorations on their home. There are also 40 illuminated decorations in the front yard, including Disney characters, toy soldiers, candy canes, a nativity scene, two Tasmanian Devils, Tigger, Snoopy and Goofy. On the side of the home, there are a dozen inflatables, including Santa in a hot rod, Mickey and Minnie Mouse on a sled, Scooby-Doo, a dalmatian, a Santa Claus train, reindeer and two bears. The display should be ready by next week.
Kane'ohe — Wena Street. Several houses on this street will be glowing by mid-December, showcasing toyland schemes and a range of holiday and cartoon figures.
Kane'ohe — Namoku Street. Several homes on this street are getting into the holiday spirit, including Lois and Kimo Lake's annual wonderland at 45-365, which features nine reindeer decked out in lights grazing on the lawn and a rooftop life-size Santa overseeing the celebration. On the garage is an inflatable snow globe, train, boat and canoe with Mickey Mouse. There are lights and ornaments everywhere. The display should be ready by Thursday.
Kane'ohe — 45-611 Pu'ohala St. William Vogel has icicle lights on the eaves and more lights on the fence and windows of his home. The inside of his garage has more lights and ornaments. There's a manger scene, as well as lots of Santas. "It's very bright," Vogel said. The display should be ready by Thursday.
Kane'ohe — 45-1116 Grote Road. The home of the Maxilom family boasts lights, character cutouts, a gingerbread house display, blow-up Christmas tree with snow kids and more. The display should be ready by next week.
'Ahuimanu — Hui Koloa Place. There are few undecorated windows on this street. Visiting "Christmas Lane" is a Windward tradition.
LEEWARD O'AHU
Waipahu — 94-444 Lianu Place. Charmaine Songne celebrates the 23nd anniversary of her Care Bears-themed display. Her parents and next-door neighbors, Wilfred and Annette Yamaguchi, no longer put up their traditionally mammoth display. But Songne inherited everything — including dozens of handmade wooden character cutouts — which she'll include in her exhibit. Hours: 6-10 p.m. Monday through Dec. 31.
Waipahu — 94-313 Kiokio Place. Now in their 15th year decorating, Loretta Domingo and family will deck the halls with thousands of lights and about 100 cartoon characters, including characters from "The Incredibles," "Dora the Explorer," "Finding Nemo," "Shrek," "Monsters, Inc.," "South Park," "A Bug's Life," "Power Puff Girls" and "Lilo & Stitch." There will also be a tribute display to military families. Hours: 7-9:30 p.m. nightly Dec. 15 through Dec. 26, weather permitting.
Waipahu — 94-1108 Kahuamo St. A candy-cane tree, lighted arch and nativity scene decorate the roof of Sammy and Cora Cortez's home, along with Santa Claus, an angel, a snowman and American, Hawaiian and Filipino flags. The entire home is trimmed with strings of 10,000 lights. On the garage, you'll find a lighted palm tree, two lighted arches, Minnie and Mickey, a dancing Santa, Santa on a reindeer, three angels, two drummer boys and more. The display should be ready by Dec. 12.
'Ewa Beach — 91-1146 Haiano Place. Frank and Wanda Suster's home will have 5,000 lights and a collection of more than 100 plywood cut-out characters, including a life-size Santa and Mrs. Santa. There also will be a sled with reindeer, a large manger scene and a wooden train set with elves. Hours: 6-10 p.m. Monday through Dec. 25.
Kapolei — 91-1049 Keokolo St. At their home in Kekuilani Villages, Greg and Ann Piamonte have decorated with a nativity scene, lighted reindeer, wooden cutouts, the Seven Dwarfs and more.
Kapolei — 91-1000 Hanapa'a St. The home of the Akee family — Stanley, Lisa, Wayne, Tiffany and granddaughter Tina — will feature a display of more than 20,000 lights, as well as a 5-foot gingerbread house, reindeers, wooden cutouts, tinsel trees, assorted inflatable characters and 4-feet "Support Our Troops" wooden cutouts. Other homes in the cul-de-sac will also be decorated. The displays should be ready by Thursday.
Ma'ili — 87-1029-A Hakimo Road. Bob and Julie Herodias have erected more than 200 lighted figures and 10,000 lights around their home, featuring lighted sculptures of a train, candy cane arch and North Pole sign. Also look for gingerbread, garden, North Pole and nativity scenes; Disney and Winnie-the-Pooh displays; and more. Hours: 6:30-9:30 p.m. Thursday through Dec. 26.
CENTRAL O'AHU AND THE NORTH SHORE
'Aiea — 98-801-D Ka'onohi St. The Lee family's two-story townhouse is decorated with an array of lights, inside and out. You'll find characters from Disney and Peanuts, animated figures, trains, Santas and more.
'Aiea — 98-1603 Ka'ahumanu St. Misti Benoza's decor includes a mechanical elf workshop, Goofy and Donald Duck on ice; decorated tree with trains circling it; Santa on a see-saw; Mickey Mouse; an angel scene and more. The display should be ready by next week. (The Benozas will also hand out candy canes to onlookers, while supplies last.)
'Aiea — Ho'olaua'e Street. The Matias family — including grandchildren Kingsley, Kash, Kasey, Justin, Jonathan and Jaclyn — have decorated the yard and house at 98-1616 with 10,000 lights, Disney and "Sesame Street" characters, Care Bears, a snow family, nativity scene, 32 lighted Santas, a Norfolk pine and patriotic wreaths. At 98-1649, Billy Malama and family will have lighted petroglyphs, palm trees, "Blue's Clues" characters, little snails and a rabbit amid Diamond Head, star, monkey, dolphin, owl, pegasus, a fishpond with fish and duck, poinsettias, gorilla, pig, and much more. The display should be ready by Friday.
'Aiea — 'Auhau Place. If you're in 'Aiea, drop by this short street, where a few neighbors decorate each year.
Pearl City — 98-1297 Ho'ohuali Place. The 29th annual display of the Aki family will take on the theme, "A Keiki Wonderland 2005." The yard features cartoon characters, including the Little Mermaid and Flounder; Lilo, Nani and Stitch; Thomas the Tank; Bratz; Dora the Explorer; and holiday Penguins. The house will be trimmed with more than 2,000 multicolored lights. Snowmen, wreaths and candy canes light up the fence surrounding the house. There will also be decorated palm trees and an illuminated Santa. Hours: 6-10 p.m. through Jan. 1.
Mililani — 94-061 Kuahelani Avenue. Each year, homeowners of about six units at the Holaniku Hale townhouse project decorate their entire building — mostly the carport roofs. The lights are up through Jan. 1.
Mililani — Neleau Place. All nine families of this quaint cul-de-sac have joined together again to illuminate their homes (and the neighborhood) with traditional seasonal favorites, like Santas and reindeer, as well as character themes, including "My Little Pony," "Care Bears," "Finding Nemo," "Lilo & Stitch," "Spiderman" and "SpongeBob SquarePants." Other cartoon characters, such as Shrek and Scooby, will also make an appearance.
Mililani — 95-1030 Kahakiki St. The lawn decor of Brent Matsumoto and family include handmade cutouts of "Finding Nemo" characters and a Thomas the Tank Engine.
Waialua — 66-905 Alena Loop. Mr. and Mrs. Julian Rillamas Jr. — along with children Gina, Doral, Jimbo, Alissa, Lavina, Jonathan and Albree, and grandchildren Easter-Lily, April-May, Decembers Christmas Noel and Oursavior — have outdone themselves again. Their display will include a musical and animated Santa Claus, Mr. and Mrs. Snowman, a sleigh with Rudolph and the other reindeer, nativity scene, miniature Christmas Village, lighted candy canes, and an assortment of animated dolls and bears surrounded with colorful Christmas lights.
Hale'iwa — Kamehameha Highway. Many of the homes and businesses along this main street in Hale'iwa Town will be aglow with strings of lights. The display should be ready by Dec. 5.
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