WAIMEA — In Lihu‘e, roosters pull Santa’s sleigh, but in Waimea, it’s a team of shrimp that do the honors for the man in red. That aspect, combined with a related scenario and lit with lights emphasizing the blue of
WAIMEA — In Lihu‘e, roosters pull Santa’s sleigh, but in Waimea, it’s a team of shrimp that do the honors for the man in red.
That aspect, combined with a related scenario and lit with lights emphasizing the blue of the ocean, earned top honors for The Shrimp Station in the Waimea Town Lighting Contest in the Most Beautiful category.
The lighting contest earns winning entries “bragging rights” as well as a trophy to display in businesses, said Chris Faye, one of the organizers for the event.
In addition to earning honors for its creators, the lighting display enhances the annual Waimea Christmas Light Parade which starts at 6 p.m., Saturday and winds through the main highway in town, ending along Hofgaard Park near the stage set up fronting the First Hawaiian Bank, a runner-up in the Most Beautiful category.
“It’s a beautiful backdrop for the stage,” one of the judges commented during the group’s annual tour to review the field of entries.
Business establishments in Waimea vied for prizes in five categories while residential homes competed for bragging rights in Most Outstanding.
That was earned by the home of Blanche Higashi, located just across the road from Ishihara Market, the top point recipient in the Biggest and Brightest category.
The combination of the Most Outstanding residential and Biggest and Brightest business winner offers viewers a treat as the combined display is pulled together by the lighted Christmas tree and strings of lights in Hofgaard Park.
Just a stone’s toss down the main highway, the home of Poncio and Edna Bayot offers a variety of lighted holiday artifacts, including several home-made ones. That home earned runner-up in the residential competition.
Following Ishihara Market in the Biggest and Brightest, the Waimea Fire Station’s dual-tier giant lighted Christmas tree highlighted by the warning light pole entwined with lights earned runner-up position followed by NaPali Explorer, which has its office next door to M & H Service, the winner of the Most Creative division.
“We went as far up as over the bridge to see if we could see the display,” one of the creators said as the judges reviewed the real local kine decorations that feature a laid-back Santa on the roof of the gas station.
Utilizing ideas that came from as far away as Alaska, the family-operated business worked on personalizing its display to the point of having the wish list of each of its children taped to the back of an ornament honoring each child.
Runner up in the Most Creative division went to the Nukumoi Surf Co. which featured a surfer-style Santa greeting a customer from the porch of the colorfully lit storefront next to The Shrimp Station.
A giant snowman greets passing motorists from its perch at the West Kaua‘i Technology & Visitor Center, thrilled with its runner-up position.
The trees of the Kaua‘i Care Home had been pruned ahead of time to accommodate the lights and lighted characters that earned it top honors in the Most Traditional category. Runners up in that class were the Kaua‘i Community Federal Credit Union and the Pacific Pizza & Deli where a trio of snowmen painted onto one of its windows greet customers.
All of these displays are readily available for viewers, and there is no charge to enjoy the fruits of the community’s labor.
The best vantage point is to park the car at one end of town, pick up a snack at any of the town eateries or stores, and leisurely stroll the town’s sidewalks, starting on one side before returning on the opposite side of the highway.
The best viewing time is from about 6:30 p.m. when the sun is just setting, allowing viewers the full depth of many of the displays that incorporate non-lit items.
