Waimea Christmas Twilight Parade to have new, longer route

The 62nd Waimea Christmas Twilight Parade is scheduled this weekend and the Big Island is invited to experience the holiday with a child’s cheer.

This year’s parade theme is ‘He Kalikimaka Ho‘oli Keiki’ – A Children’s Christmas Cheer. The parade will begin at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 3 and will feature a new, longer route. The new route is intended to allow spectators to be able to safely spread out. Those who plan to attend are urged to find a watching spot early.

The new parade route starts at Waimea Park, enters Lindsey Road and progresses to the main intersection with Māmalahoa Highway (Highway 19), turns left onto Māmalahoa, continues through town to Pukalani Road, turns right onto Pukalani back to Ala ‘Ōhi‘a Road and then proceeds along Ala ‘Ōhi‘a to Kalani Schutte Waimea District Park.

No open fires, no barbecues or hibachis or other possible fire triggers will be allowed along the parade route and the public is strongly encouraged to be careful about parking on dry grass to prevent sparking a grassfire. Families are also urged to keep a close eye on their keiki and no one is permitted to throw candy from floats or lighted units at parade spectators

Loads of planning and community collaboration have gone into re-organizing what is one of Hawai’i’s oldest Christmas parades, best known for its huge brigade of lighted trucks and rigs — and an annual visit by Santa.

This year’s parade highlights include Santa reconfirming his participation; Grand Marshal Kū Hinahinakūikahakai Kahakalau, an award winning, innovative Native Hawaiian scholar, educator, researcher, cultural practitioner, community leader, expert in Hawaiian language and traditional songwriter; and honoring the late Mel Paio, who died suddenly earlier this year.

The parade will also continue its commitment to supporting Big Island Giving Tree’s efforts to make sure kūpuna and others in need are included in the holiday season. The organization’s annual holiday outreach includes more than 500 Kūpuna Bags of food and basic necessities delivered to the homes of seniors, plus warm Christmas meals delivered to seniors and those experiencing homelessness.

All parade entries and the community are urged to support Big Island Giving Tree by donating. There will be Big Island Giving Tree buckets to accept donations at the 15 narrator stations along the parade route. You can also donate by clicking here.

Dozens of community partners come together to make the Waimea parade possible, most notably the Rotary Club of North Hawai’i. Year after year, the club joins the fun and also provides the essential liability insurance needed to secure parade permits.

“We thank our community’s Rotarians for continuing to make this wonderful event possible,” said Waimea Community Association President James Hustace.

As always, Waimea Christmas Twilight Parade is open to all to participate, from schools, churches and community groups to farms, ranches and businesses. For parade rules and application, click here.

For more information, contact parade co-chairpeople Lani Olsen-Chong by calling 808-936-0670 or viea email at olsenchong@gmail.com or Kalae Kawamura at 808-936-4376 or k_kawamura92@yahoo.com.