Rockefeller Center in New York just threw the switch on its iconic tree this past Wednesday. And this weekend Hawaii’s own holiday icon will make its return with the Honolulu Tree Lighting Ceremony 2017.
Believe it or not, the holidays are a pretty big thing here in Hawaii. Our holiday traditions as we know them today may not have been around all that long, but they’ve become an essential part of island life. Especially here on Oahu where we have our very own big tree and displays. And to kick the season off the City & County of Honolulu will be holding its annual City Lights Opening Night Festivities this Saturday.
Honolulu City Lights
Honolulu’s annual holiday lights display, or the Honolulu City Lights, is a rather lavish setup with tons of exhibits and lights on and around the grounds of Honolulu Hale. Outdoors, visitors will find oversized holiday-themed displays, including the iconic shaka Santa and Aunty Mele. And these holiday displays, I should note, were all made by hand in Hawaii by City & County employees on their own time.
In addition to the outdoor displays, visitors will find other works of volunteers and the public inside Honolulu Hale. In the central atrium, visitors will find Christmas Trees decorated by City employees. And down a side corridor, visitors will see a collection of wreaths submitted for an annual contest by Oahu residents.
And in case you’re wondering, the centerpiece tree is always locally harvested. Usually, as it is this year, the tree is a Norfolk Pine, as its one of the few pine trees that thrive in Hawaii. According to Hawaii News Now, the 70-foot tree is believed to be 25-years-old and was donated by an island resident in Waikele.
Opening Night
Saturday, December 2, is opening night for Honolulu City Lights. This is a major event and usually attracts HUGE crowds. And on this night, in addition to the usual displays described above, visitors may experience:
- Food, souvenirs, and rides open at 4:00 pm
- Tree lighting ceremony and electric light parade begin at 6:00 pm
- Actual tree lighting is at 6:30 pm
- Exhibits in Honolulu Hale (decorated trees, wreath, and gingerbread display) also open at 6:30 pm
- Free photos with Santa begins at 7:30 pm
- A holiday concert will also begin at 7:30 pm
Festivities will wrap up at 11:00 pm. Oh, and the food vendors that will be present on opening night include:
- Leonard’s Bakery
- Quick Stop Foods
- Uncle Lani’s Poi Mochi
- Dick’s Lechon
- Frozen Fun a.k.a. Slush Puppy
- Olay’s Thai Food Express
- Island’s Finest Shave Ice
- Waimanalo Country Farms
- Papa John’s Pizza
Of the above vendors, I’ve only ever had Leonard’s Baker and Papa John’s. Leonard’s is famous, of course, for their malasadas. And while good, I think they’re only edible when warm/hot. Once they cool, Leonard’s malasadas tend to stiffen up quite a bit. Reheating them just ruins them too, so don’t even think about it.
Normal Operations
Following the opening ceremony, the Honolulu City Lights will be open daily from 8:00 am to 11:00 pm through January 1, 2018. This includes both Christmas and New Year’s Day. However, the event will be significantly scaled back once the opening festivities are over. For example, after December 2, there will only be three food vendors: Leonards Bakery, Kettle Corn Hawaii, and Island Maid.
Honolulu Tree Lighting Ceremony 2017, Final Thoughts
If you’re going to be on-island during December, the Honolulu City Lights is definitely something worth checking out. It’s a free event that celebrates the holidays in a uniquely Hawaii way. And if you want a souvenir from your Hawaiian Christmas, be sure to pick up a Honolulu City Lights ornament. There’s a new ornament every year and proceeds from their sale go towards supporting the Friends of Honolulu City Lights. For more information on the Honolulu City Lights, including where to buy an ornament, visit: honolulucitylights.org