Experience a family holiday tradition at the Kona Christmas House

It’s a week before Christmas, and one Big Island family continues its annual tradition of lighting up the season ever so brightly.

Each display and strand of lights is hung with care, bringing the community joy that is beyond compare.

Now in its 18th year, the Kona Christmas House on the Piena Place cul-de-sac is again illuminating the night, with more than 30,000 lights — and even Santa — spreading loads of cheer.

Craig Long, his wife Jennifer and their 12-year-old daughter Emma invite everyone to their Pualani Estates home to behold the splendor and bask in its aura.

“It’s a trademark in Kona at Christmastime,” said Te Awa Manning, whose family enjoys the holiday spectacle every year.

The brilliant Big Island winter wonderland comes complete with Rudolph up on the housetop and swirling artificial snow.

There also are Christmas trees aplenty, including one created with light strings towering 23 feet high, and a blow-up snow globe that entices keiki to come and play. They might even find a gift inside. No matter where you look, there’s something festive and shiny, from snowmen, nutcrackers and trains to gift boxes and a Roomba ice skating Snoopy.

Christmas carols and music reverberate through the night, synched with the light tree in front of the garage. If you catch a chill while wandering around in awe, the Longs have hot cocoa available while you experience the holiday montage.

Kids — big and small — even have a chance to be a part of the decorating crew. Just use the light mixer attached to the big Christmas tree in the front yard to change its festive hue. You can also check out the FAQ tree by the front door to learn all about the displays, lights and other decor.

Special stockings are hung on a tree and chimney in the back, personalized by neighbors and family friends for children they know to unpack. There’s also a dog-themed tree, complete with toys and treats for furry friends and a remembrance tree where messages from visitors to their loved ones who’ve passed are penned.

“It’s giving people an option to be involved and a part of things,” Long said.

Like the Mannings, many Big Island families make visiting the Kona Christmas House every year a holiday custom. From Dec. 1 to 30, hundreds of people turn out to see the lights.

Some dance to “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” Others cry when they see the artificial snow take flight. Some stare for what seems like hours at the decorations they encounter.

“There’s certain things that touch them,” Jennifer Long said.

That’s the main reason the family keeps the tradition alive.

“This is the spirit of the season,” she added. “I’m helping make their day end on a bright note.”

It’s a labor of love for the Longs to provide the experience, with all the time and energy they devote. They start putting up the decorations before Halloween to make sure everything’s ready by the first of December. All three of them and Jennifer’s mother Pauline Requelman combine for a holiday team up to bring it all together.

“It’s the best part of Christmas for me, being able to share it with my family, because we can do things together,” Craig Long said.

Emma, whose first memory of helping her parents make the holidays bright was when she was 8, has spent time with Dad putting up displays on the roof, hanging lights and helping to design the Christmas-themed estate.

Her friends have a ton of fun when they visit, too, even getting into a few snowball fights.

Long hopes his daughter continues the tradition when she has her own family and home to decorate.

Weather permitting, the lights come on every night at 6 p.m. at 75-6202 Piena Place throughout the month. They turn off at 9 p.m., except on Christmas Eve when the Longs keep them on a little later for crowds to be wowed.

You can get updates and more on the Kona Christmas House Facebook page.

Long is also already looking forward to the new decorations as part of next year’s exhibition.

“It’s probably already in the garage,” his wife proclaimed, as an impish smile on Long’s face was framed.

From a second-story window, Santa can be heard wishing everyone a Merry Christmas with his signature “Ho, ho, ho,” and the Longs are more than happy to be part of that message with their home all aglow.