Posted on: Sunday, December 2, 2007
Neighborhood cheer
By Zenaida Serrano
Advertiser Staff Writer
Whether you are in search of Christmas cheer or in need of respite from the holiday madness, a leisurely stroll or drive around the neighborhood may be just what you need.
Families and businesses in every part of the island have once again gone out of their way to impress for the holidays with outdoor displays, both simple and elaborate, and The Advertiser has compiled its annual list of must-see exhibits.
There's the Nakaokas' "Disney House" in Kane'ohe, where plywood cutouts of characters from "High School Musical," "Enchanted" and "Ratatouille" greet visitors; Disney music will play nightly. The Herodias' home in Ma'ili boasts 10,000 lights and more than 200 lighted figures, including a train and nativity scene.
Common additions to many displays this year are lights synchronized to music and inflatables of every imaginable Christmas character and vignette. A popular purchase seems to be the rotating Ferris wheel with Santa and friends; find it at the homes of the Vares family in McCully, the Hepfners in Kailua and the Carvalhos in Waipahu.
Of course, the regulars are back: John and Isabel Silva of Kapalama, who have decorated for about 50 years, return with their themed artificial Christmas trees, gingerbread train and other goodies. The Olivares family of 'Ewa Beach present their 27th annual display, a standard in 'Aiea for many years, with a Hawaiian-style winter wonderland.
And you know you can expect serious Christmas cheer from displays that involved groups of families working together to wow the neighborhood. For example, the Kaiakua Street gang in 'Ewa Beach has thousands of strings of lights to brighten the community, the Hanapa'a street families in Kapolei have about 20 Christmas trees throughout their yards, and the veteran decorators of Neleau Place in Mililani are back with the traditional favorites, including Santa and his reindeer.
Wherever you live, you can be sure to find illuminated inspiration nearby.
So gather the loved ones, take along this guide and enjoy the sights — and lights — of the season.
HONOLULU
Kalihi, 3145 Kalihi St.: New to the Duenas family's display is a large, lighted parol — a traditional Filipino Christmas decoration — featuring a manger scene. Returning are their 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 about 50 years, John and Isabel Silva have decorated their home for the holidays. This will probably be their last year, so be sure to check out their old favorites: penguins, themed artificial Christmas trees, a sleigh with lights, elves, reindeer, gingerbread train, tree and lighted wreath, a light display focused on a nativity scene and much more.
Downtown: The 23rd 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." Check out the newest Honolulu Hale display, "Lanakila," a train in the old plantation style and loaded with gifts for the season.
Details: www.honolulucitylights.org.
Punchbowl, 1553 Miller St.: Lindy Franca and family have Santas, snowmen, carolers, Winnie-the-Pooh, a 5-foot wreath, nativity scene and more.
Manoa, 2672 Lowrey Ave.: The Allen family continues its decorating tradition, which started more than 25 years ago. New this year is an elf holding a candy cane, a "Merry Christmas" sign 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 much more. The Allens also have a banner displaying the need for donating blood during the holiday season. Hours: 6-9:30 p.m. nightly.
McCully, 723 Hau'oli St.: A 7-foot-high rotating Ferris wheel with Santa Claus, a reindeer and a snowman is the newest mechanical display at the home of Stanette and Raphael Vares Jr. Back again are an animated carousel; lighted carolers Charlie Brown, Lucy and Linus; a singing snowman; mechanical reindeer; and a bear-themed house with a skiing bear. Also look for a gingerbread house, Santa and Mrs. Claus, Santa's Christmas Countdown, a mechanical rocking horse and a nativity scene with choir boys.
McCully, 1928 Young St.: Apartments G, E, A and B at this complex will be decorated with a Santa holding a surfboard, mesh lights and icicle lights. There will also be last year's 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.
Palolo, 2306 Kuahea St.: A multitude of "blow molds" and festive lights adorn the Chivers' home on the corner of Kuahea Street and Wai'oma'o Road in Palolo Valley. Season favorites include a complete nativity scene, Santa and Mrs. Claus, Frosty, toy soldiers and lots more.
Palolo, 1707A Palolo Ave.: The display at the Puaa residence will include lighted wreaths along their fence, lighted gifts in and around a canoe, a 17-foot Christmas tree and 8-foot inflatable Santa.
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 the Lee family'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 Tanaka will have about 7,300 miniature lights, including 10 different lighted displays mounted on the fence and roof of his home.
LEEWARD O'AHU
Waikele, 94-226 'Anapau Place: A synchronized light and music show is part of the Yoshidas' Christmas display.
Waipahu, 94-471 Palai St.: The Feethams' display is a mixture of lights all around the house and landscaping, lighted reindeer and inflatables. There will be musical synchronization of the lights on trees and bushes. Notes: The home won the 2006 Village Park Best Christmas Decoration award.
Waipahu, 94-383 Hene St.: The Harbor View home of Vic and Martha Carvalho features a mechanical Ferris wheel with Christmas critters, reindeer, a manger scene, Santa and Mrs. Santa, Snoopy, bears, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, a Santa train and a village. Lights will also be strung around the house and fence.
Waipahu, 94-313 Kiokio Place: Now in their 17th 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."
'Ewa Beach, 91-053 Pahuhu Way: More than 10,000 lights and 50 figurines transform the Olivares family's simple front lawn into a Hawaiian-style winter wonderland. This is the 27th year of the display, which now resides in 'Ewa Gentry — it was a standard in 'Aiea for many years. The family has added a Santa Claus snow globe to the collection, which includes an animated Santa and reindeer, manger scene, candy cane borders, Santa's toy train, a snowman and toy soldiers. The display will be ready by tomorrow.
'Ewa Beach, Kaiakua Street: It's almost a requirement to decorate your home for the holidays if you live on this Ocean Pointe street. For the past four years, residents have been stringing thousands of lights between their houses and staging every imaginable holiday display on their front lawns. It's a must-see.
'Ewa Beach, 91-1146 Ha'i'ano Place: Frank and Wanda Suster's home will have 5,000 lights and more than 100 plywood cutout 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.
Kapolei: The annual Kapolei City Lights event — themed "A Keiki Holiday Celebration" — takes place 5-9 p.m. Saturday at Kapolei Hale with food booths, entertainment and free keiki games. An electric light parade will make its way around the community at 6 p.m. and a tree lighting ceremony will cap off the festivities at 7:30 p.m. The Christmas tree, which will be in front of Kapolei Hale, will be lit through Jan. 1.
Kapolei, Hanapa'a Street: The families of this cul-de-sac invite you to a Christmas display that will include lighted arched driveways, animated characters, gingerbread houses, various inflatables, holiday Heineken and Bud Ice trees and about 20 other Christmas trees throughout the yards. For the full effect, visit after Wednesday's lighting ceremony.
Kapolei, 91-1049 Keokolo St.: The Piamontes' home in Kekuilani features a nativity scene, as well as wooden cutouts of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and penguins and more.
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 numerous inflatables, 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 arctic, Disney, gingerbread, garden, North Pole, South Pole and nativity scenes and more. Hours: 6:30-9 p.m. nightly.
CENTRAL O'AHU, NORTH SHORE
'Aiea, 99-149 Kulina St.: The Andres family decorated both inside and outside their home with thousands of lights to create a winter wonderland in paradise.
'Aiea, 98-1603 Ka'ahumanu St.: Misti Benoza's newest additions include two inflatable snowmen and two trains circling a Christmas tree. Back again are the mechanical elf workshop, Goofy and Donald Duck, Santa on a seesaw, Mickey Mouse, an angel scene, igloo and more. The family will pass out candies to onlookers while supplies last.
'Aiea, 98-1616 Ho'olaua'e St.: The Matias family — including grandchildren Kingsley, Kash, Kasy, Justin, Jonathan and Jaclyn — have decorated their yard and home with more than 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 presents their 31st annual display, "A Keiki Wonderland 2007," which includes cartoon characters like the Little Mermaid and Flounder; Lilo, Nani and Stitch; Thomas the Tank Engine; Bratz; and Dora the Explorer. There will also be Merrie Bear, Frosty the Snowman, Santa and holiday penguins throughout the house. Candy canes will light up the fence, Hawaiian palm trees will take the place of Christmas trees and everything will be set to holiday music. Hours: 6-10 p.m. through Jan. 1.
Pearl City, 1474 Kaleilani St.: Jesus and Kaleo Espinosa have decorated their two-story home with an inflatable carousel, lighted gingerbread house, Winnie-the-Pooh, Tigger, a Santa, reindeer, a tin soldier, a snowman family and other inflatables and lights.
Mililani, 94-538 Hokuala St.: Letecia Panoncillo and family have strings of lights along the roof and walls of their home. Also on their roof: a Christmas tree, reindeer, angels, nativity set and wreath, and five more wreaths in their lanai.
Mililani, Neleau Place. The eight families living in this cul-de-sac are once again illuminating their homes with traditional 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 newest addition to the Matsumotos' lawn decor is a wooden cutout of Mumble, a character from "Happy Feet." There will also be handmade cutouts of "Finding Nemo" characters (Nemo, Dory and Squirt), Curious George and Thomas the Tank Engine.
Waialua, 66-905 Alena Loop: Mr. and Mrs. Julian Rillamas Jr. and 'ohana are once again celebrating the season with their elaborate outdoor exhibit. The couple — along with children Gina, Doral, Jimbo, Alissa, Lavina and Jonathan; and grandchildren Easter-Lily, April-May, Decembers Christmas Noel, Oursavior and Joshua — have created a display featuring an inflatable and musical Mr. and Mrs. Snowman, dolled-up bears and a 14-foot giraffe dressed up for the holidays. There will also be optic-lighted snowmen along the fence, a musical and animated Santa Claus, a sleigh with Rudolph and the other reindeer, nativity scene, miniature Christmas village, lighted candy canes and much more.
Hale'iwa, Kamehameha Highway. Many of the homes and businesses along this main street in Hale'iwa Town once again will be aglow with strings of lights.
WINDWARD O'AHU
Kailua, 1182 Akuila Place: Darlene and Jay Pahed have an outdoor light display that includes a nativity scene, lighted Grinch and more. Hours: 6-9 p.m. Fridays-Sundays.
Kailua, 1087 Alahaki St.: The Hepfner family's holiday display has a tropical theme, with a surfboard-riding Santa and lighted palm trees. They'll also have a mechanical Ferris wheel, snowman and penguin pair, Santa in a train, a homemade mantel adorned with stuffed animals and an inflatable snowman penguin.
Kailua, 1170 'Akumu St.: Mike and Pee Cee Brede have decked their home with Christmas decorations, thousands of lights and lots of inflatables, including a carousel with animals, Christmas tree with presents, Frosty the Snowman, Santa and more. (However, the inflatables will not be up on windy nights.) The decorations will be synchronized to Christmas music and a light show. Hours: 6-9 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays and 6-10 p.m. Fridays-Sundays.
Kane'ohe: As part of the Windward City Lights, the Christmas tree fronting the Kane'ohe fire station and the decorations fronting the Kane'ohe police station across the street will be lit through Jan. 1.
Kane'ohe, 47-269-F Hui 'Iwa St.: This year marks the 13th 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 cutouts. New this year: characters from "High School Musical," "Enchanted" and "Ratatouille." You can also find 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.: New to the massive display of Andrea Rodrigues-Gum and her dad, Mel Rodrigues, is a 10-foot-long inflatable of Christmas critters that flash on and off to holiday songs. Other yard inflatables include Santa coming out of a chimney, a penguin outside of an igloo, Snoopy, Scooby Doo, a hot rod Santa, motorcycle Santa with reindeer and Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse on a sleigh. Lighted figurines include Tigger, Goofy, a gingerbread man, gingerbread tree, toy soldiers, drummer boys, candy canes, an elf, snowman, honey bear, Santa Claus and a nativity scene.
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 Santa, Rudolph and blinking candy canes on the roof of the house. In the yard are a polar bear in a boat pulled by six lighted dolphins, palm trees, frogs, reindeer and a 15-foot Christmas tree being decorated by a 10-foot dinosaur. There are lights and ornaments everywhere.
Kane'ohe, 45-1116 Grote Road: The home of the Maxilom family boasts lights, Disney characters and lots of inflatables, including a Ferris wheel, carousel, Christmas tree with snow kids, Tigger 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: Visiting this festive street — also known as "Christmas Lane" — is a Windward tradition.
Join our discussion: http://forums.hawaiimoms.com/viewtopic.php?t=1815">Favorite neighborhood
holiday displays.
Reach Zenaida Serrano at zserrano@honoluluadvertiser.com.
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