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Photographs often are the best way to show dramatic changes in Hawaii, providing an easy update on landmarks, persons and events. At other times, however, photos showing minimal changes during the years remind us that the more things change, the more they remain the same. Look for examples of big and little changes every Monday in "It's about time," which will inform, update and prod a few memories.

Honolulu City
Lights shine on

FOR the 16th year, Honolulu Hale and the grounds of City Hall are bedecked with holiday finery and decor as part of the "Honolulu City Lights" festivities.

Every year since the tradition began in 1985, decorations and festivities have become more elaborate. The "Snow" family this year, for example, has been stripped of its old look and given a distinct Hawaiian personality with haku lei, shave ice and surfboard.

In the photo at right, Shaka Santa and Tutu Mele (Mrs. Claus) are in their familiar places greeting passers-by on King Street. The lights on this year's 50-foot Christmas tree, meanwhile, are part of a computer-operated setup designed to handle 30 to 40 different lighting concepts. That's a big difference from the days when traffic signal boxes were used to time the lighting of the tree.

By John Tichen, Star-Bulletin
Christmas decorations were fairly low key at Honolulu Hale in 1986.

Carol Costa, city customer services director, recalls that when Frank Fasi, after an absence of four years, took over as mayor again in 1985, he decided "to bring Christmas back to downtown." That first year, a 50-foot-tall Norfolk pine was erected in front of Honolulu Hale, illuminated by floodlights and decorated with simple white wooden doves and gold balls the size of home ornaments. In 1986, things were still fairly low key, as evidenced by this tree and sparse decorations (photo at top). Prison inmates helped construct that red garland for the Christmas tree, while trees along King Street, from Bishop Street to City Hall, were strung with lights. In 1987 the city adopted the title "Honolulu City Lights," and the downtown business community and state government also began to get into the spirit of the theme.

By Ken Sakamoto, Star-Bulletin
Shaka Santa and Tutu Mele (Mrs. Claus) greet passers-by on King Street.

By 1988, "Honolulu City Lights" stretched 1 1/2 miles, with more than 300 trees festooned with holiday sparkle.

In 1989 the 2-ton Shaka Santa became a December fixture, dipping his feet into the fountain.

That year, the corridor of lights stretched from downtown to Thomas Square, not only up King Street but back down on Beretania, including the whimsical light displays in front of the Board of Water Supply.

In 1993 the Public Workers' Electric Light Parade was begun, kicking off the season of lights as it did again on Saturday.

From the festive but fairly sedate holiday scene in the courtyard of Honolulu Hale back in 1977 (photo at left), city employees -- in a "labor of love" -- now create a wonderland of Christmas trees each year.

In all, "There is nothing in any other city that is as big, bold, bright and cheery" as Honolulu's city lights, Costa proclaims.

By Warren Roll, Star-Bulletin
A holiday scene in the courtyard of Honolulu Hale in 1977.