KALAHEO — Traveling along Kaumualii Highway, the archways from Gwen and Larry Carveiro’s home, and the star atop an illuminated Christmas tree, beckon. The residents of Onohi Lane in Kalaheo have banded together for the past 31 years to offer
KALAHEO — Traveling along Kaumualii Highway, the archways from Gwen and Larry Carveiro’s home, and the star atop an illuminated Christmas tree, beckon.
The residents of Onohi Lane in Kalaheo have banded together for the past 31 years to offer a growing holiday light display for people to enjoy.
“It started back from the days of the hurricane,” said Juan Lorenzo, one of the residents whose yard glows with lights. “We were all out on the road after the hurricane and decided we would do this for Christmas.”
Lorenzo and his family, the Carveiros, and Rose Fune form the core of residents who decorate their homes.
“There was another home, but they moved to Arizona,” Lorenzo said. “This year, that home is dark. They’re trying to sell it.”
Gwen Carveiro said Santa will be available to greet the younger set each night from 7 to 9 through Christmas Eve.
“People need to bring their cameras for photos with Santa,” Gwen said. “But Christmas Eve, he has to leave to deliver presents to children.”
There is no charge to have a photo taken with Santa, although a donation of a canned good, or non-perishable food item for the food bank is appreciated.
Gwen said they begin putting displays together in October.
“Our new items are the reindeer and snowman,” Gwen said. “We also have purple lights. Purple has become a new Christmas color.”
It also costs a bit of money to put on such a light show.
Lorenzo, who works with the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, said the addition of Light Emitting Diodes has helped tremendously with displays.
“Our electric bill used to be between $400 to $500,” Lorenzo said. “Now, with the LEDs, the bill is in the high $300s or $400.”
Gwen said her electric bill is in the $400 range for her light display, which increases each year.
Each year, new items are added, giving the display that much more each time around.
“One of the new items in the display are the Mickey and Minnie Mouse figurines,” Lorenzo said of the new additions. “I was taking trash to the refuse transfer station after Christmas and there they were at the entrance. When I asked the people, they said the figurines were going to be trashed.”
The attendants recognized him as one of the Kalaheo light people and gave him the figurines.
“Minnie had no nose, but I fixed that,” Lorenzo said. “Now, they’re part
of the display next to
Santa and Mrs. Claus.”
Fune, another of the stalwart residents on Onohi Lane, features her collection of between 800 to 900 nutcrackers.
To get to Onohi Lane, turn onto Opu Road from Kaumualii Highway in Kalaheo. Onohi Lane is the first left turn going up the hill.
There is no charge to view the displays and chat with the residents.
