Nontraditional groups
dominate annual
City Lights lottery

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By Mary Adamski
madamski@starbulletin.com

Only two religious groups are among the five private organizations permitted to erect exhibits on the City Hall grounds during the December holiday season this year.

A lottery was conducted yesterday among the 11 applicants for five display areas available during the Honolulu City Lights extravaganza. The winners are:

>> National Spiritual Assembly of Bahais of the Hawaiian Islands, a religion with roots in Iran.

>> Chabad Lubavitch of Hawaii, a Jewish organization.

>> Goodwill Industries of Hawaii, a sheltered workshop for disabled employees.

>> Kamaaina Care, an affiliate of Kamaaina Kids, operators of preschools.

>> Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays of Oahu, an advocacy group.

In past years, Hawaii's religious diversity was reflected in the private displays. Chabad builds and light a giant menorah to celebrate Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, in December. Christian and Buddhist congregations, which have traditionally put up Christmas and Bodhi Day commemorations, lost out in bidding that involved nearly double the applicants of last year.

City attorneys must check that the winners meet the standards as bona fide nonprofit organizations, said spokeswoman Carol Costa. Should any drop out, the next number of the lottery will get the go-ahead to build a booth.

Costa emphasized that the displays are permitted but they are not part of the Honolulu City Lights program, which will open Dec. 1 in its 17th annual holiday display.

In 1992 the administration of former Mayor Frank Fasi granted a Pearl City church's request to add a manger scene to the city's secular Christmas decorations. Three years later, the Mililani Hongwanji was allowed a Bodhi Day display.

In 1997 the city established the lottery system in response to a complaint by the American Atheists group, which claimed that the city favored the Christian group with a preferred site. An area next to Honolulu Hale is set aside for the private displays.