City delivers holiday For a while, it appeared there would be no Christmas tree made up of electric lights atop the hill behind the Kaimuki Fire Station -- until the city came to Kaimuki's aid.
cheer to Kaimuki
By Pat Gee
pgee@starbulletin.comThe city had asked the Kaimuki business community to put up the tree this year after the city had done it for 15 years, but the community could not find someone to get the job done, said city spokeswoman Carol Costa.
The tree was installed Tuesday night, she added. Two crews and two cherry pickers were taken off the Honolulu City Lights project to put up the lights for the tree, with the help of Kaimuki Lions Club members, Costa said.
Ginny Meade, of the Greater East Honolulu Community Alliance, said: "We are extremely grateful. The city did a marvelous job and two days faster than we expected. God bless the city for coming through for us."
"The mayor sees this project as not just Kaimuki Christmas tree, but a lighted holiday symbol for those traveling along H-1 freeway, eastbound," Costa said.
The Greater East Honolulu Community Alliance and the Kaimuki Business and Professional Association tried to get someone in the community to donate services and a cherry picker to put up the lights to make up the tree, but could not get a firm commitment.
When Meade told Mayor Jeremy Harris of the problem, he "told her that somehow we would find a way to help," Costa said.
The Kaimuki business groups purchased the guide wires and lights in 2001, and will make arrangements to take over the tree project by next year, Costa said.
"We are planning on leaving the guide wires up so next year they will only have to install the lights. The city will always be involved, as we need to provide access to the power source there. We are also planning to explain how the job is done to the volunteer group that will take this over next year," Costa said.
Meade said widespread opinions from people from Makakilo to Koko Head reiterated the mayor's feelings that "the tree was not just for Kaimuki, but all of East Honolulu. One woman said, 'It is a symbol that the season is starting.'" The tree will be officially lit at the end of the town's Christmas parade Dec. 5.
She has also received quite a few offers of help for next year, including the use of 45- and 60-foot cherry pickers, which will still be needed to string up the lights. But she wants the city to stay involved in case arrangements fall through.
The Kaimuki groups will form a committee to plan for next year's installation of the tree, along with the possibility of putting up street decorations for which the district was once famous, she said.
City & County of Honolulu
