When the original organizers of the Festival of Lights event wanted help this year to make it bigger and better, Kaua’i responded. For the past three years, the holiday light and ornament extravaganza at the Historic County Building in Lihu’e
When the original organizers of the Festival of Lights event wanted help this year to make it bigger and better, Kaua’i responded.
For the past three years, the holiday light and ornament extravaganza at the Historic County Building in Lihu’e was pulled off primarily because of Kilauea resident Elizabeth Freeman, a handful of parents and students from the Seacliff School in Kilauea and a small number of businesses.
Having to juggle work and family with the extra duty of putting on the event took a toll on them, and some were ready to bow out.
Freeman approached the county for help, and with help from Mayor Maryanne Kusaka, more than 125 volunteers from numerous organizations and businesses gave their time, skill and expertise to last night’s lighted extravaganza.
Groups contributing to the event included Kaua’i High School’s Academy of Tourism and Travel, Kaua’i High Chorus, Hale O’pio Kaua’i Inc., 4-H Club, Girls and Boys Club of Kapa’a, Cadet Girl Scout Troops 283 and 540, Island Canvas Works and Upholstery, Kaua’i Community Correctional Center, Organizational Services Etc., Kaua’i County Fire Department, the county Public Works Department, AV Kaua’i, Salvation Army, Rasco Supply, Verizon Hawai’i, Kaua’i Electric, King Auto Center, Wal-Mart, Ace Hardware/Ben Franklin Crafts, Big Kmart, Kaua’i Chorale, The Garden Island Singers, Sandy Smith, Garden Isle Telecommunications, Louis Rodriguez and Toolmaster.
Also volunteering, including those who originally volunteered when the Festival of LIghts event was first staged three years ago, were Linda Dietrich, Manu Fonua, Kathy McDonald, Anna Murillo, Sue Bottomly, Megan Whited, Sue Keller, John and Heather Cornell, Sam Moala, Robert Von Hubbard, Dore Jean, Wyatt Taubman and Blake Van Noy.
Food for the volunteers was donated by Princeville Hotel and Resort, Sheraton Kaua’i Resort, Embassy Vacation Resort at Po’ipu Point, Kaua’i Marriott, Lawa’i Beach Resort, Hawai’i Hotel Association’s Kaua’i chapter, Radisson Kaua’i Beach Resort, JJ’s Broiler, McDonald’s, Subway in Lihu’e and Pizza Hut in Lihu’e.
In addition to last night’s debut, the lights at the Historic County Building will be on display from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through December, including Christmas Eve.
Staff writer Lester Chang can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) and lchang@pulitzer.net
