Honolulu City Lights Festival 2009

It is gonna look a lot more like Christmas after Saturday December 5 2009 when the 25^th Honolulu City Lights Festival brings the magic of the season to the grounds of the Honolulu Hale spreading the joy throughout downtown and midtown.  This will mark the 25^th Anniversary of the day when a lone Christmas tree on the grounds of the civic center launched a much beloved local tradition.  Over the years the festival has grown in popularity, drawing visitors from all over the Island s as well as The World.

The fun begins at 4 PM when food booths and keiki (children) rides open for business at Sky Gate on the grounds of the Civic Center.  At 5PM check out the Music Concert at Kawaiaha’o Church, and then at 6PM the festival officially begins with special guest Raiatea Helm at the Honolulu Hale, with Mayor Mufi Hannemann & Mrs Hannemann , the Christmas Tree will be lit, and the winner of the ‘Were you there in 1985’ contest winner will be announced.  At the exact same time Public Workers Electric Light Parade begins at Aala Park at River Street, proceeding down King Street to Honolulu Hale.

The Electric Light Parade is always wonderful to watch, with vehicles decorated in imaginative ways displaying the talents and tireless energy of Honolulu’s City & Country Workers, their pride and love for the City vividly displayed.  Inside the Honolulu Hale after 6:30 PM scope out the display of Christmas Wreaths & Trees, and Gingerbread houses.    At 7:30 Sky Gate hosts the Honolulu City Lights Silver Jubilee Celebration Holiday Concert, among those performing will be The U.S. Air Force Band, Maunalua, Amy Hanaiali‘i, Delima Ohana and Touch of Gold.

There will be an additional free concert on Saturday December 12^th 2009 at the magnificent Mission Memorial Auditorium on the grounds of the Honolulu Hale from 6PM to 9 PM featuring Robi Kahakalau and Special Guests, the Performing Arts Academy “Show Choir,” and Hi‘ikua.  Courtesy of Kraft Foods Nabisco, the Hawai’i Food Service Alliance, and Foster Farms Dairy, there will be Milk & Cookies from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM.

There will be a final free concert at the Mission Memorial Auditorium Saturday December 19 2009 from 6PM to 9PM, this time enjoy the talents of The Puppetry of Jeff Gere, the Keiki Palaka Band and Brother Noland.  Be prepared to bring your own milk & cookies this time around, and do not forget to share some with the entertainers.

The Honolulu City Lights will dazzle the public through the end of the year, providing a perfect excuse to stroll the grounds of the Civic Center with family & friends, on most nights the lobby of the Honolulu Hale will open, with an array of ornament laden trees & wreaths and colorful gingerbread houses on display.  Outside the 21 foot tall Shaka Santa cools his toes in the fountain, Tutu Mele by his side, further along the Hawai’i’an Snow Family is wonderful backdrop for photos, along with an assortment of oversized decorations.  All of this made possible by a generous gift from the City & County of Honolulu, various organizations, all of whom encourage donations.  Scope out the City Lights Website: http://honolulucitylights.org/

Tags: Free Events, Honolulu, Honolulu City Lights, Honolulu Hale, Oahu