To say Elizabeth Freeman is excited is an understatement. As the head of the Festival of Lights program, Freeman was thrilled to see the end results as Kaua‘i High School students secured lights on the Christmas trees in the Historic
To say Elizabeth Freeman is excited is an understatement. As the head of the Festival of Lights program, Freeman was thrilled to see the end results as Kaua‘i High School students secured lights on the Christmas trees in the Historic County Building’s lobby yesterday.
Six teens from the school’s Academy of Hospitality and Tourism have been working with Freeman since September in developing a theme and decorations for the Festival of Lights.
“Last year, the students wanted flowers, so the (Academy of Hospitality and Tourism) class created a mural of flowers,” Freeman said, pointing out a panel on the upper level of the building’s rotunda. “This year, the students wanted a rainbow. They wanted a waterfall. They wanted more Kaua‘i, so they created it.”
Freeman said the brainstorming begins with the academy students. Their ideas trickle down to the other volunteers and serve as inspiration for the year’s theme and direction.
“It’s amazing to see how much these (academy) students have learned in the art of crafting,” Freeman said.
The Festival of Lights event was inspired by Josie Chansky, whose family used to open their home up to the public to view the collection of Christmas decorations that she created over the years.
With less than a week to go before the formal opening of the Festival of Lights — which will illuminate the lobby and lawn of the county building starting at 6 p.m. Friday — Freeman does not hesitate in pointing out how cans of Spam were transformed into decorations and ornaments. Bottle caps and other everyday items were combined to form themed displays — everything inspired by the Chansky family’s ingenuity and love for Christmas.
“We had Spam for breakfast, lunch and dinner,” one student joked while putting the finishing touches on an ornament.
Taking on a paniolo theme, Freeman said Aletha Kaohi and her staff from the West Kaua‘i Tech Center created a tree honoring the Paniolo Hall of Fame. The tree, designed with the help of student Kristyn Vasconcelles, Miss Rodeo Hawai‘i, features horseshoes sprinkled with decorated bottle caps.
“You want local? How about chickens?” Freeman said. “Santa comes to Kaua‘i in a sled pulled by chickens.”
Another corner will feature Hawaiian-style nutcrackers for a Nutcrackerland, including a hula nutcracker.
The massive display is put together with the help of volunteers from the Kaua‘i Community Correctional Center and the academy students as well as other community volunteers.
Also Friday, the Kaua‘i Museum will host its annual juried Christmas Craft Fair from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. across Eiwa Street. Following the lighting ceremony, community groups and organizations welcome in the holidays with a spectacular Lights on Rice holiday parade.
