Festival of Lights (Hawaii)
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The Festival of Lights is an annual celebration held in Hawaii during December.
Honolulu
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Kauai
On Kauai, the Festival of Lights began in 1996, focusing on the preservation of Christmas folk art. Its origins begin 50 years ago with "Auntie" Josie Chansky, a folk artist born and raised on Kauai. It is because of her art and contribution to the people of the islands that Festival of Lights was created. For nearly 40 years, first on Oahu and then 18 years on Kauai, Auntie Josie opened her home to neighbors, strangers, tourists - everyone and anyone. People just started showing up on her lawn and then at her door. They wanted to see all the Christmas folk art decorations that she created and displayed on the outside and inside of her home. Auntie Josie’s home became known as “The Christmas House.” Generations of families began making “The Christmas House” part of their holiday traditions to see favorites such as a Christmas tree made of 7,500 green toothpicks, wreaths formed from egg cartons, table decorations constructed with seed pods, and a chandelier fashioned from wire coat hangers. Auntie Josie transformed these humble materials into sparkling treasures.
Auntie Josie’s husband died in 1996. Out of grief and the sad realization that she did not have the strength to put up all the decorations herself, Auntie Josie held a garage sale. Luckily, the loss of the “The Christmas House” to the community was recognized and her entire collection was saved by a community member and donated to the County of Kauai. Festival of Lights was born and continues to be run by community volunteers with funding by the County of Kauai, Office of Economic Development, Hawaii Tourism Authority, individuals and private businesses.
In 2006, Auntie Josie was honored by both the Senate and the Office of the Mayor for her 50 years of contribution to Hawaii’s holiday season. The Hawaii House of Representatives had also recognized her work in 1975. In 2006, Auntie Josie was honored with Proclamations by both Senator Hooser of the Hawaii State Legislature and Former Kauai Mayor Baptiste for her 50 years of contribution to Hawai‘i’s holiday season. A week before Auntie Josie’s passing on February 3, 2009, Kauai Mayor Carvalho also issued a Proclamation to Auntie Josie.
Festival of Lights also showcases decorations created by the local community. In 2010, high school students from Kauai High Academy of Hospitality and Tourism (AOHT) were invited to the Washington D.C. office of Senator Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) to create an "Aloha Recycled Treasures" Christmas tree. More than 500 handcrafted ornaments created from discarded water bottles decorated the tree. Every U.S. Senator was also presented an ornament along with a request to share the beauty of recycling. The 2009 Festival of Lights was the first to showcase the results of the AOHT students’ “Aloha Recycled Treasures” project, which were snowflake and flower Christmas tree decorations. In 2010, the AOHT students expanded to pineapples, coconut trees, surfers and more.
Other decorations created by various members of the local community for display at the Festival of Lights include Kauai-style themed trees: SPAM, Hula Bear, Kilauea Lighthouse and Peacock.
More than 5,000 people attend Opening Night at the Historic County Building on the first Friday of December. Visitors enjoy caroling by the Kauai Chorale and Santa leading a Lighting Countdown of the Historic Park. The doors then officially open for viewing of the interior of the Historic County Building and its illuminated Christmas decorations. Visitors can continue to view the Festival of Lights through Christmas Eve.