FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                    November 29, 2005

HONOLULU AND KAPOLEI SHARE CITY LIGHTS 2005

            West Oahu residents will be treated to a special Christmas cheer, as the City and County of Honolulu and Friends of Honolulu City Lights bring the 21^st celebration of Honolulu City Lights to Kapolei Hale in addition to City Hall this year.

The exciting event kicks off at Honolulu Hale on Saturday, December 3, with the official tree lighting ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Kapolei’s program will be held one week later, on Saturday, December 10, beginning at 6:00 p.m. and featuring its tree lighting at 7:30 p.m. 

            This year’s theme of Ha`aheo No ´O Honolulu – Pride of Honolulu commemorates the City’s 100^th anniversary.  Decorations on the Honolulu Hale tree will feature mirrored ornaments highlighting 100 places and things that reflect the uniqueness of our City and its rich history.  Honolulu Hale’s official 55-foot tree was donated this year by Joseph Aranio of Hawaii Kai while Kapolei Hale’s tree was given by Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Lewis of Mililani.

Honolulu City Lights’ Opening Night festivities have become one of the most anticipated holiday events in town for both visitors and locals.   “This year, we are also spreading the Christmas spirit from our second city hall in Kapolei,” said Mayor Mufi Hannemann. “We want the whole island to be able to share in this exciting holiday celebration.”

Key sponsors of the 2005 Honolulu City Lights include Hawaiian Electric Company, Cox Radio Hawaii, First Hawaiian Bank, Central Pacific Bank, Fuji Film Hawaii, Aon Risk Services, Honolulu Star Bulletin/Midweek, Hawaiian Airlines, Macy’s and Tom Moffatt Productions.

                         Honolulu Hale Celebrates

Although opening night ceremonies at Honolulu Hale begin at 6 p.m., the public is advised to arrive early to avoid heavy traffic jams that may begin by 4:30 p.m.  To accommodate early arrivals, food booths will be in operation from 4 p.m. and there will be rides for the keiki.

  The public is also encouraged to attend a special holiday service at 5 p.m. across the street at historic Kawaiahao Church. 

 Ceremonies begin promptly at 6 p.m., with City Managing Director Jeff Coelho as the emcee and a Christmas medley performed by Nephi Hannemann, Iva Kinimaka and Pali.  A surprise guest will join Mayor Hannemann and the First Lady at the platform as the mayor illuminates the City’s 55-foot Norfolk Island Pine at 6:30 p.m., when all of downtown simultaneously “lights up.” 

The moment the City’s Christmas tree lights up, the Public Workers Electric Light Parade, sponsored by Hawaiian Electric Company, passes in front of Honolulu Hale.  The parade will leave River Street at 6 p.m., proceeding down King Street and arriving at Honolulu Hale at 6:30 p.m.

The 59-unit parade includes high school marching bands from Aiea, Baldwin, Castle, Damien, Farrington, Holy Family Academy, Kahuku, Kapolei, Leilehua, McKinley, Mililani, Nanakuli and Waipahu, plus the Royal Hawaiian Band, and the Celtic Pipe and Drum.

More than 35 festive and eye-catching floats will participate in the parade, including a spectacular entry by the Hawaiian Electric Company.  Santa will ride in a float created by the City’s Road Maintenance Division and arrive at Sky Gate at about 7:45 p.m. to hear children’s Christmas wishes until 9 p.m.  Fuji Film Hawaii will be at the Santa stage to take free photos of children visiting with Santa.

Large crowds are again expected to flock to Sky Gate for the Tom Moffatt holiday concert, which starts at 7:30 p.m. The exciting featured talent will include Yvonne Elliman, Raiatea Helm, Jasmine Trias, Pali, Jordan Segundo, Tani Lynn Fujimoto and the Hawaii Stars All-Stars.

Food and beverages, Fuji disposable cameras, commemorative ornaments and event t-shirts will also be sold on the grounds throughout the evening. 

All the Honolulu Hale City Lights festivities (tree lighting ceremony, parade and concert) will be cablecast LIVE on Saturday, December 3, starting at 6 p.m. on Olelo Channel 54.   Channel 54 has also scheduled the following rebroadcast:

Opening night highlights:       Dec. 25 and 26 at 9 a.m. 

          Dec. 30 and 31 at 9 p.m.

Electric Light Parade:         Dec. 25 and 26 at 9:30 a.m.

        Dec. 30 and 31 at 9:30p.m. 

Holiday Christmas Concert:       Dec. 25 at 10:30 a.m.

               Dec. 26 at 10:30 p.m.  

   Dec. 30 at 10:30 p.m.

   Dec. 31 at 10:30 p.m.

            A one-hour special on the Electric Light Parade at Honolulu Hale will also be aired on KHON-TV (Channel 2) at 9:00 p.m. on Friday, December 23.

The celebration continues nightly through January 2, 2006.  The City’s Employees’ Christmas Tree Exhibit and Holiday Wreath Display inside Honolulu Hale may be viewed from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, including holiday and weekends. 

Special holiday entertainment and choir performances will be presented nightly in the Honolulu Hale Courtyard.  Call the Mayor’s Culture and Arts Hotline at 527-5666 for the schedule or log on to www.honolulu.gov/csd/citylights for events at Honolulu Hale and www.honolulu.gov/csd/citylights/kapoleihalecitylights for Kapolei Hale activities.  Santa will also visit the Honolulu Hale courtyard every evening after the concert until Christmas Eve. 

                     Kapolei Hale Festivities

Kapolei Hale will offer keiki rides, entertainment, holiday music and a concert on its grounds, beginning at 5:00 p.m. on December 10.  The public will also be treated to an Electric Light Parade at 6:00 p.m., followed by the lighting of the Kapolei Hale Christmas tree at 7:30 p.m.

Keaumiki will emcee Kapolei’s program, which will also feature entertainment by Halau O Hokulani (led by Na Kumu Hula Larry and Hokulani deRego), the Navy Brass Band, Kaukahi, the Soundettes, Sweet Sounds, and Simplicity.

Kapolei Hale will also be open 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from December 11 through January 1, 2006 for public viewing of Christmas trees and displays.  Santa will also be there on December 10 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., following the Electric Light Parade.

-30-