By Kathryn Bender, Star-Bulletin
The giant tree outside Honolulu Hale will be aglow again this
year. Last December, above, the lights drew holiday wanderers
through the holiday season.

Holiday lights go on around
the city this weekend

Star-Bulletin staff

You can no longer ignore the holidays, not with Honolulu ablaze with lights. The official opening of the 14th annual Honolulu City Lights celebration takes place this weekend when Mayor Jeremy Harris lights the traditional 50-foot Christmas tree at Honolulu Hale on Saturday.

The Shaka Santa will return to his familiar perch on the Honolulu Hale fountain. Mrs. Santa Claus has gone Hawaiian, changing from her red-and-white North Pole attire into a colorful muumuu accessorized with a kukui-nut lei. She's even adopted a new moniker, Tutu Mele.

Inside Honolulu Hale, the city is opening a Toys for Tots Treasure Chest. Bring a toy when you come to see the lights and it will be donated to the Marine Corps' annual toy drive.

By Ken Sakamoto, Star-Bulletin
Shaka Santa and his wife, Tutu Mele, are already
dipping their toes in the water on the City Hall lawn.

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Saturday festivities at Honolulu Hale are scheduled as follows:

4:30 p.m.: Children's entertainment on the front lawn

6 p.m.: Public Workers' Electric Light Parade begins on the corner of Bishop and King streets, and proceeds along King. The more than 20 parade vehicles will include a garbage truck, TheBus, TheHandi-Van, an ambulance, trolleys, fire engines, even a powered lawn mower.

This year's parade sponsor, Hawaiian Electric Co., has created a 40-foot float entitled "A Brighter World." Built by the company's engineers, it promises to be a show-stopper with animation, lights and children performing on board.

Santa's float will arrive at Honolulu Hale at about 7:15 p.m. (The parade will be televised, beginning at about 7 p.m., following the day's football games on KITV. Musical guests featured on the program are Robi Kahakalau, Kata Maduli and Sean Na'uao.

6:25 p.m.: All of downtown will be lit simultaneously when Harris lights the city tree.

6:30 p.m.: View the city employees' Christmas tree, wreath and swag exhibition, themed, "Christmas Through the Eyes of a Child."

7 p.m.: Entertainment continues with performances by Henry Kapono and the Makaha Sons.

Marjorie Wilkens paints a tiny armoire,
to be sold at the Festival of Trees.

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Festival of Trees

Also taking place this weekend is the 44th annual Festival of Trees, running tomorrow through Sunday at Ward Warehouse's Kaka'ako and Kewalo Conference Rooms.

On view will be a display of 8-foot theme-decorated trees. There will be handmade wreaths, stockings, holiday centerpieces, ornaments, miniatures, folk art and collectibles for sale. Participants may also bid in a silent auction.

The fest will be open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. tomorrow and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Admission is a $1 donation; children 12 and under get in free.

Sponsored by the Queen's Medical Center Auxiliary, the festival benefits the hospital's purchase of an Open Magnetic Resonance Imaging machine.