65th Waimea Twilight Christmas Parade celebrates Upcountry holiday traditions

It might be a stretch — if not impossible — for some to remember what Waimea Town was like in 1960. Many who now call the North Hawai‘i community home hadn’t even been born, plus many others had yet to make the move to the Upcountry.

Much has changed since the early 1960s, when Waimea was still a small, rural, mostly ranching and farming community.

There is one organization that has seen it all, and that is what is now known as the annual Waimea Twilight Christmas Parade — Hawai‘i’s second oldest Christmas parade.

This year’s 65th installment of the seasonal procession — one of the Upcountry’s longest-running traditions — will celebrate the past while reflecting on the change, plus all the people who actively helped keep Waimea, well, Waimea.

More than 60 lighted entries — including many festively decked out trucks and other big rigs — are set to parade through Waimea, lighting up the historic community for a holiday show like none other on the island.

Parade units will stage in Waimea Park, beginning promptly at 6 p.m., before turning out onto Kawaihae Road next to Waimea Community Center and across from Habitat for Humanity’s RESTORE, the former Chock In.

They then proceed to Lindsey Road and onto the main intersection, turn left onto Māmalahoa Highway to pass through town center, then right onto Pukalani Road, another right onto Ala ʻŌhiʻa Road and end at Kalani Schutte Waimea District Park.

Post-parade viewing of lighted units is available at the district park.

The parade will illuminate the joy and cheer of the holidays this year while shining a festive, soft glow on past and present Waimea meet.

Memories of the early 1960s will likely well up for those who do remember Waimea from a time gone by — the Hayashi Store, Parker Ranch meat market, the Vegetable Stand, Chock In, Bric A Brac, Kamuela Liquor Store, I. Oda Store and Fukushima Store.

They’ll also recall seeing riders on horseback making their way around town and hitching posts in the center of town, plus several churches — ‘Imiola, Kamuela Hongwanji Temple, Ke Ola Mau Loa, the Mormon Church, St. James and Annunciation, which was then just a small wooden chapel.

They might even recall a proliferation of trees, very few gas stations and no stoplights or fast food outlets.

People they met, worked with and befriended will come to mind, especially those who made the Christmas parade possible year-after-year — and those who created the annual holiday celebration.

After all, it wasn’t just the parade that was born in 1960. It had a twin that has been crucial to its success. Originally called Waimea-Kawaihae Community Association and the parade’s founder, the Waimea Community Association was born the same year.

All past Waimea Community Association presidents were invited to ride in this year’s 65th anniversary parade as its collective grand marshal to honor them and the work that the organization has done not just with the Christmas parade since 1960 but with other events and activities since 1960.

“It is, after all, a dual ‘birthday party’ for both the parade and its founding sponsor,” said Waimea Community Association President Mary Beth Laychak.

Among those past presidents to be honored are several who continue to be actively involved in the Waimea community, including Fred Nonaka, Neil Morriss, Pete Hendricks, John Ray, Riley Smith, Sherman Warner, Patti Cook, James Hustace and Nancy Carr Smith.

Peter Young and Bill Sanborn also are among the honorees, but unfortunately won’t be riding on the grand marshal unit. Young is on the mainland and Sanborn will be driving the North Hawai’i Rotary and North Hawai’i Hospice parade entry.

Laychak added that it also will be an honor to highlight those brave souls who are no longer with us, some of whom continue to serve.

Those include the late Richard Penhallow, Bill Morriss, Hisao Kimura, Michael O’Kieffe and Mike Luce.

What else you need to know about parade day

Collecting donations for a community meal

• There will be a brigade of volunteers combing the parade route, asking their generous neighbors to donate to a community meal at St. James and ensure no one gets forgotten this holiday season.

Narrator stations with trash bags and restroom facilities

• There will be 20 sponsored narrator stations along the parade route, most with a nearby lighted porta lua. All narrator stations will have trash bags to be used by spectators, first aid kits and a fire extinguisher for the public’s convenience and safety.

Food trucks

• Along the parade route will be about a dozen food trucks grouped together in two locations — in the parking area fronting historic Pukalani Stables and the gravel lot immediately south of Waimea Elementary and Middle Schools, adjacent to Ala ʻŌhiʻa Road.

No barbeques, hibachi or open fires permitted

• While parade spectators can set up their own tents along the parade route for viewing, absolutely no barbeques, hibachis or open fires are permitted. Special care also must be exercised to avoid accidentally starting a grass fire with any kind of lighted objects, including heated cars.

Santa Claus is coming to town

• Santa has confirmed participation in the parade on a magical float created by the staff of Canada-France-Hawai’i Telescope and W.M. Keck Observatory.

Keep the festivities going

• Immediately after the parade, Canada-France-Hawai’i Telescope will again host its annual Star Party immediately after the parade at its Waimea headquarters, with stargazing/viewing, weather permitting, outside and inside; make-and-take crafts; and goodies such as hot chocolate.
• Hawai’i County Band will present a concert before the parade from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., and then hop aboard a float created for them by the Parker Ranch ‘ohana to lead off the parade.

Dozens of activities are also planned on parade day throughout Waimea, including:

• Two large craft fairs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Parker Ranch Center and Waimea Center.
• Popular annual bazaar at St. James.
• New rummage sale at nearby Waimea Country School.
• New Town Market at Pukalani Stables.
• Calabash Hula, featuring performances by dancers from Hālau Waiau, Hula Maunalei and Hālau Malanai, at 1 p.m. at Kahilu Theatre.

Visit the Waimea Community Association website or contact Lani Olsen-Chong via email at olsenchong@gmail.com or by calling 808-936-0670 or Kalae Kawamura via email at k_kawamura92@yahoo.com or by calling 808-936-4376.