WAIMEA — Please visit, or stay in Waimea until dark to see the wonderland of lights through Dec. 31, said Chris Faye, a longtime organizer of the annual lighting extravaganza in Waimea. Several thousand people took Faye up on the
WAIMEA — Please visit, or stay in Waimea until dark to see the wonderland of lights through Dec. 31, said Chris Faye, a longtime organizer of the annual lighting extravaganza in Waimea.
Several thousand people took Faye up on the invitation, lining the sidewalks along Kaumualii Highway for the annual Waimea Lighted Christmas Parade, Saturday.
“I was not involved in the planning this year,” Faye said. “Aletha Kaohi had something planned so that was my concentration.”
Kaohi put together a solemn tribute to King Kaumualii on behalf of the West Kauai Visitor Center, one of the entries into the lighted parade which was presented by the West Kauai Professional and Business Association.
“People were reserving space from Friday night,” said Jason Fujinaka, the on-air personality for FM97 which provided a special live broadcast from parade central at Ishihara Market. “This is the second year FM97 has done the live broadcast, and after last year, organizers realized the importance of having information put out for people because of the road closures and parade staging.”
Ishihara Market was voted tops in the Biggest and Brightest building display judging, an award it has earned annually.
“There were too many great displays to choose from,” Faye said. “This year, all of the displays were judged. There were no applications needed. There were too many people in years past who were not being acknowledged for their hard work in making Waimea the biggest and brightest display of holiday cheer on Kauai.”
Following Ishihara, Waimea Landing and Hofgaard Park, site of the parade’s end, filled in the leaderboard for Biggest and Brightest.
Waimea High School’s fence along the highway, filled with a multi-level of spectators for the parade, was voted tops in Best Daytime Displays, the Menehune fence being followed by JoJo’s Anuenue Shave Ice and Pakala Surf Co. on Waimea Road, and the Shell Gas Station, hosting the Project Graduation food concession, rounding out the top.
Ultimate Nails on Ala Wai Road topped the Most Beautiful judging followed by Mailani, whose people were busy filling orders for bento lunches along with an assortment of baked goodies, including pumpkin cruch, and Obsessions, whose crew brought food out to the sidewalk to whet appetites of hungry parade participants.
The Shrimp Station topped the Most Brilliant judging followed by Dr. Kanna’s office and First Hawaiian Bank, Waimea Branch.
The West Inn topped the Most Traditional judging followed by Da Booze Shop, and the Waimea Baptist Church
Pay Day Loans topped the Most Creative judging followed by Island Tacos and the Waimea Theatre.
Homes on Panako Street topped the Best Street Display where three or more houses had to be decorated. The Waimea Dairy Camp had the Biggest and Brightest display in the Residential judging, with the Bayot residence getting the nod for Most Creative, the Huakai Road homes being the Most Beautiful, and the Matsukawa home being the Cutest.
• Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
