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BRUCE ASATO / 2015
Shaka Santa and Tutu Mele lit up at the 2015 Honolulu City Lights. This year’s Honolulu City Lights display will be scaled back.
Shaka Santa and Tutu Mele will be back in December for the 36th annual Honolulu City Lights Display, according to city officials, donning face masks.
City officials today said decorations will be put up at Honolulu Hale for the annual Honolulu City Lights, but in a scaled-down version for drive-by viewing from Dec. 9 to 28 in order to offer cheer and joy while discouraging large gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We want everybody to be in the holiday spirit, while still staying safe,” said Mayor Kirk Caldwell in a news release. “Let’s all act with care toward one another this holiday season by wearing face coverings, staying six-feet apart, and not gathering in large groups to view the tree and other holiday decorations in front of Honolulu Hale.”
City crews are scheduled to install the 21-foot Shaka Santa and Tutu Mele displays on Tuesday in their customary spots atop the Honolulu Hale fountain. Both Santa and Tutu will wear face coverings in support of Hawaii’s statewide mask mandate.
The city’s official 50-foot holiday tree is scheduled to arrive at Honolulu Hale on Wednesday for installation on the front lawn facing King Street. City crews are also stringing holiday lights through the branches of the coconut and monkeypod trees along a stretch of King Street.
A scroll display will recognize the event’s valued sponsors.
There will, however, be no opening festivities, an electric light parade, or tree lighting ceremony by the mayor this year, or vendor booths, rides and in-person photos with Santa. Nor will there be the annual tree and wreath displays inside of Honolulu Hale.
Instead, a virtual tree display will allow viewers to enjoy the holiday creations of 18 city departments, as has been an annual tradition over past years.
A historic presentation on the making of Honolulu City Lights will be presented on television on various days from Dec. 5 to 25.
“While safety is our No. 1 priority this year, we are always proud to ring in the holiday season with Honolulu City Lights,” said Sheri Kajiwara, director of the city’s Department of Customer Services in the news release. “We look forward to keeping this tradition going this year with drive-by enjoyment.”
For more information, visit the Honolulu City Lights webpage.
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