O'AHU'S CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

The lights are strung, the inflatable Santa is blown up and Rudolph's cherry-red nose shines bright. People across O'ahu have once again decorated their homes for the holidays, and The Advertiser has compiled its annual list of must-see displays. Among the festive exhibits:

HONOLULU

• Kalihi — 3145 Kalihi St. The Duenas family's display includes palm trees, animated reindeer donning lei and sunglasses, a Hawaiian Santa, and an animated "Paul" the polar bear and "Sara" the seal. There are also Christmas trees with gifts, icicles all over the house, Mr. and Mrs. Snowman with a child, and more.

• Kapalama — 1420 Kapalama Ave. For nearly 50 years, John and Isabel Silva have festooned their home for the holidays. This will likely be their last year, so check out their penguins, themed artificial Christmas trees, a sleigh with lights, elves, reindeer, gingerbread train, tree and lighted wreath, a lighted display centered on a nativity scene, and much more. Wait a week for the full effect.

• Downtown — The 22nd annual Honolulu City Lights will be on display throughout the Downtown area nightly through Jan. 1 and carries the theme "Ku'u Home — Our Home."

• Punchbowl — 1553 Miller St. Lindy Franca and family have Santas, snowmen, carolers, Winnie-the-Pooh, a 5-foot wreath, nativity scene and more.

• Manoa — McKinley Street. This is the eighth year of Lighting Up McKinley Street, a massive display that involves practically an entire neighborhood. In addition to the Neighborhood Watch Garden's flying reindeer display, scores of homes will be lit up and decorated for the season.

• Manoa — 2672 Lowrey Ave. The Allen family continues their decorating tradition, which started more than 27 years ago. New this year are a polar bear, "Merry Christmas" sign, snowman and two candle lights. There's also an elf holding a candy cane and a 5-foot wreath. Their collection of 50 characters includes a nativity scene, Mr. and Mrs. Claus, Frosty, several elf characters and a sleigh set. It also includes Disney characters such as Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Winnie-the-Pooh and many more. The Allens also display a banner underscoring the need for donating blood during the holiday season. Hours: 6-9 p.m. nightly.

• McCully — 723 Hau'oli St. An animated carousel and lighted carolers Charlie Brown, Lucy and Linus are among the attractions at the home of Stanette and Raphael Vares Jr. Back again are the singing snowman, mechanical reindeer, bear-themed house with a skiing bear, gingerbread house, and Santa and Mrs. Claus. Also look for Santa's Christmas Countdown, a mechanical rocking horse and anativity scene with choir boys.

• McCully — 1928 Young St. Apartments G, E, A and B at this complex will be decked with red, white and blue tube lights, a snowman, a gingerbread man, blinking candy canes, chasing lights in red and green, Santa's train, and purple grapes with leaves.

• Waikiki — 1777 Ala Moana Blvd. This is the 12th and final year for Allan Wallace's beloved "Allantown," which you can find in the lobby of the Ilikai hotel. The elaborate Christmas village, featuring dozens of structures and sites, will be on display through Jan. 2.

• Kapahulu — 854 Lukepane Ave. Roger Mitchell has seven new holiday outdoor inflatables, including penguins and a merry-go-round. His annual display of animated figures includes a reindeer, a Hawaiian Santa on the roof, elves, a Hawaiian snowman family, a drummer boy, carolers, Santa and Mrs. Claus, Santa on skates, and Santa with a jet plane. There's also a nativity scene, Santa's village, toy soldiers and a Christmas tree.

• Palolo — 1707A Palolo Ave. "Presents From Santa" is the theme at the Puaa home, where a canoe, 17-feet-tall Christmas tree and 8-foot inflatable Santa make up the Christmas display.

• Kaimuki — 1248 Wilhelmina Rise. Phil Akau has brought back his arrangement of lights, a Santa, Frosty the Snowman, Christmas stocking and other decorations.

• Kahala — 3969 Kaualio Place. Find Christmas on the slopes of Diamond Head at Brandon Lee's home, which will be festooned with lighted and inflatable animals, a merry-go-round of lights, and various ornaments depicting the holiday season.

• Hawai'i Kai — 954 Maniniholo St. Alan Hughgill presents his annual lawn arrangement with reindeer, a nativity scene, snowmen and Santas.

• Hawai'i Kai — 530 Kaumakani St. Walter M. Tanaka's lighting display includes "Peace on Earth" and "Seasons Greetings" signs, two doves, an American flag, four bells with ribbon, a poinsettia, a wreath with a ribbon and candle, a 15-foot Christmas tree, and more. There are also hundreds of lights strung along the fence, eaves and throughout the house.


WINDWARD O'AHU

• Kailua — 1182 Akuila Place. Darlene and Jay Pahed have a Christmas light display that's synchronized to music. Hours: from dark to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

• Kailua — 1087 Alahaki St. The Hepfner family's holiday display includes a surfboard-riding Santa, canoe with penguins, snowman and penguin pair, palm trees, Santa in a train, a homemade mantel adorned with stuffed animals, and an inflatable snowman penguin.

• Kailua — 1170 'Akumu St. Mike and Peecee Brede Sr. have decked their home with lots of lights and inflatables to celebrate the holiday season.

• Kane'ohe — 47-269-F Hui'Iwa St. This year marks the 12th year of Disney-themed decor at Cliford and Paula Nakaoka's townhouse, which has been nicknamed the Disney House. There are more than 75 Disney plywood cut-outs, including characters from "Alice in Wonderland," "Cars," "Chicken Little," "The Nightmare Before Christmas," "The Incredibles," "Home on the Range," "101 Dalmatians" and more. Disney music will play nightly through the first week of January.

• Kane'ohe — 46-201 'Ohala St. Andrea Rodrigues-Gum and her dad, Mel Rodrigues, have lighted figurines that include Tigger, Goofy, a gingerbread man, gingerbread tree, toy soldiers, drummer boys, candy canes, an elf, snowman, honey bear and Santa Claus. Their yard inflatables include Snoopy, Scooby Doo, a hot rod Santa, toy soldier, puppy, motorcycle Santa with reindeer and Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse on a sleigh.

• Kane'ohe — Wena Street. Several houses on this street will be glowing by mid-December, showcasing toyland schemes and a range of holiday and cartoon figures.

• Kane'ohe — 45-365 Namoku St. Lois and Kimo Lake are getting into the holiday spirit with their annual wonderland, which features an inflatable merry-go-round on the garage and penguins on the roof of the house. In the yard are Santa in a boat pulled by Rudolph, palm trees, frogs, reindeer and two 15-foot Christmas trees. There are lights and ornaments everywhere.

• Kane'ohe — 45-1116 Grote Road. The home of the Maxilom family boasts Disney characters, a carousel, lights and more.

• Kane'ohe — 45-265 William Henry Road. Most of the residents at Kilohana Apartments decorate their front door and string lights on their window sill.

• 'Ahuimanu — Hui Koloa Place. There are few undecorated windows on this street. Visiting "Christmas Lane" is a Windward tradition.


LEEWARD O'AHU

• Waipahu — 94-383 Hene St. The Harbor View home of Vic and Martha Carvalho features reindeer, a manger scene, Santa and Mrs. Santa, Snoopy, bears, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, a Santa train, and a village. Lights will be strung around the house and fence.

• Waipahu — 94-444 Lianu Place. Charmaine Songne celebrates the 24th anniversary of her Care Bears-themed display. Her parents and next-door neighbors, Wilfred and Annette Yamaguchi, no longer put up their traditionally mammoth display. But Songne inherited everything — including dozens of handmade wooden character cut-outs, which she'll include in her exhibit.

• Waipahu — 94-313 Kiokio Place. Now in their 16th year decorating, Loretta Domingo and family will deck the halls with thousands of lights and about 100 cartoon characters, including characters from "Bratz," "Cars," "Madagascar," "The Incredibles," "Dora the Explorer," "Finding Nemo" and "South Park."

• Waipahu — 94-1108 Kahuamo St. A candy-cane tree, lighted arch and nativity scene are among the outdoor decorations of Sammy and Cora Cortez's home, along with Santa Claus, an angel, a snowman and American, Hawaiian and Filipino flags. The entire home is trimmed with 10,000 lights. You'll also find a lighted palm tree, Minnie and Mickey, a dancing Santa, Santa on a reindeer, two drummer boys and more.

• 'Ewa Beach — Kaiakua Street. The entire street in this Ocean Pointe community has been decorating for the holidays for the past three years. Thousands of lights are strung between houses and front lawns stage every imaginable Santa display.

• 'Ewa Beach — 91-1146 Haiano Place. Frank and Wanda Suster's home will have 5,000 lights and more than 100 plywood cut-out characters, including a life-size Santa and Mrs. Santa. There also will be a sled with reindeer, a large manger scene and a wooden train set with elves. Hours: 6-10 p.m. Daily.

• Kapolei — Hanapa'a Street. The households of this cul-de-sac invite you to a Christmas display made especially for you. This includes the home of the Akee family — Stanley, Lisa, Wayne, Tiffany and granddaughter Tina — at 91-1000, which will feature a display of more than 20,000 lights, as well as a 5-foot gingerbread house, reindeer, wooden cutouts, tinsel trees, assorted inflatable characters and a 10-foot Heineken tree.

• Nanakuli — 89-089 'Aone Place. Al and Becky Ayau have dolled up their home with lights and their yard with Christmas trees, reindeer and characters from "Finding Nemo," "Lilo & Stitch" and more.

• Ma'ili — 87-1029-A Hakimo Road. Bob and Julie Herodias have erected more than 200 lighted figures and 10,000 lights around their home, featuring lighted sculptures of a train, candy cane arch and North Pole sign. Also look for gingerbread, garden, North Pole, South Pole and nativity scenes; Disney and Winnie-the-Pooh displays; and more. Hours: 6:30 9 p.m. Daily.


CENTRAL O'AHU AND NORTH SHORE

• 'Aiea — 98-801-D Ka'onohi St. Gary Lee and family are at it again. Their two-story townhouse is decked out with lights and animation magic, inside and outside. Returning are the Peanuts gang, Disney characters, lots of Santas, and more. New this year is a taste of a Winter Wonderland and a stage coach. Is that a runway for Santa to arrive on? "If you need some Christmas cheer, then this is one place where you'll find it," the family says.

• 'Aiea — 98-1603 Ka'ahumanu St. Misti Benoza's decor includes a mechanical elf workshop, Goofy and Donald Duck, decorated tree with trains circling it, Santa on a seesaw, Mickey Mouse, an angel scene, and more.

• 'Aiea — 98-1616 Ho'olaua'e St. The Matias family — including grandchildren Kingsley, Kash, Kasey, Justin, Jonathan and Jaclyn — have decorated their yard and home with 10,000 lights, Disney and "Sesame Street" characters, Care Bears, a snow family, nativity scene, 32 lighted Santas, a Norfolk pine, and patriotic wreaths.

• 'Aiea — 'Auhau Place. If you're in 'Aiea, drop by this short street, where a few neighbors decorate each year.

• Pearl City — 98-1297 Ho'ohuali Place. The Aki 'ohana is back with their 30th annual display, "A Keiki Wonderland 2006." The yard features cartoon characters, including the Little Mermaid and Flounder; Lilo, Nani and Stitch; Thomas the Tank; Bratz; Dora the Explorer; and holiday penguins. Snowmen, wreaths and candy canes light up the fence surrounding the house. There will also be decorated palm trees. Hours: 6-10 p.m. through Jan. 1. Daily.

• Pearl City — 1474 Kaleilani St. At Jesus and Kaleo Espinosa's two-story home, you'll find Winnie-the-Pooh, Tigger, a Santa, reindeer, a tin soldier, a snowman family and other inflatables and lights.

• Mililani — 94-061 Kuahelani Ave. Each year, homeowners of several units at the Holaniku Hale townhouse project decorate their entire building — mostly the carport roofs.

• Mililani — Neleau Place. Eight families living in this quaint cul-de-sac have joined together again to illuminate their homes (and the neighborhood) with traditional seasonal favorites, such as Santas and reindeer, as well as various character themes, including "Happy Feet," "My Little Pony," "Care Bears," "Finding Nemo" and "Scooby Doo."

• Mililani — 95-1030 Kahakiki St. The Matsumotos' lawn decor features handmade cut-outs of "Finding Nemo" characters (Nemo, Dory, Squirt), Curious George and Thomas the Tank Engine.

• Waialua — 66-905 Alena Loop. Mr. and Mrs. Julian Rillamas Jr. — along with children Gina, Doral, Jimbo, Alissa, Lavina and Jonathan, and grandchildren Easter-Lily, April-May, Decembers Christmas Noel and Oursavior — have outdone themselves again. Their display will include optic- lighted snowmen along the fence, a musical and animated Santa Claus, Mr. and Mrs. Snowman, a sleigh with Rudolph and the other reindeer, nativity scene, miniature Christmas village, lighted candy canes, and an assortment of animated dolls and bears surrounded with colorful lights.

• Hale'iwa — Kamehameha Highway. Many of the homes and businesses along this main street in Hale'iwa Town will be aglow with strings of lights.