Christmas Parade Spotlight: 64th Waimea Twilight Christmas Parade

One of Patti Cook’s favorite memories of Christmas parades past is when revered Waimea educator Patricia Rice was grand marshal of the 2018 Waimea Twilight Christmas Parade.

“Such a fun evening honoring ALL of Waimea’s TEACHERS during the 2018 Waimea Christmas parade,” especially the “amazing” Rice, shared the Waimea resident and former development director at Waimea Middle School on Monday in a Dec. 2, 2018, memory on Facebook.

The parade’s theme that year honored teachers as “Guiding Stars at Christmas and Always,” and Rice’s tenure included serving as a teacher, counselor, curriculum coordinator, vice principal, four-time principal and grantwriter/coordinator.

She coordinated a continuous improvement process for accreditation at Waimea Middle School and also led the team that in 2003 decided to become the first public conversion charter school in Hawai‘i.

Rice was more than deserving of the grand marshal honor that year, as well as the festive wheels that carried her along the parade route — made especially for her.

“Must thank, again, the school staff who created her fabulous chariot for the parade!” exclaimed Cook in her Monday memory post.

It’s the most wonderful time of year, and plenty of memories will be made again as viewers and participants alike — just like Cook before them on Facebook — reflect on their favorite parade and holiday moments from years past during the 64th Waimea Twilight Christmas Parade

“A Waimea Christmas Memory” is in store during the 2024 installment of Hawai‘i’s second-oldest holiday parade. It kicked off at 6 p.m. today, leaving from the staging area at Waimea Park.

More than 60 parade entries — trucks, big rigs and other units, including the return of Hawaiian Electric’s “Big Ben” Toys for Tots lighted train, a keiki favorite — are rolling through the heart of the upcountry Big Island community in celebration of the season.

It’s “a great day to feel the Christmas spirit!” exclaimed Rhonda Bell in a Waikōloa Insiders Facebook group post.

Participants will first head along Kawaihae Road, next to Waimea Community Center and across from Habitat for Humanity’s RESTORE, proceeding to Lindsey Road.

Lighted units will then turn left at the main intersection onto Māmalahoa Highway to pass through town center before heading right onto Pukalani Road, taking another right onto Ala ‘Ōhiʻa Road and ending at Kalani Schutte Waimea District Park, where they will stay for post-parade viewing.

The parade route is closed to through traffic from 5:55 to 7:15 p.m. Motorists are advised there are no alternate routes through town.

Twenty narrator stations are positioned at various locations along this year’s longer parade route, most with a nearby lit porta lua for the public’s use and trash bags, first-aid kits and a fire extinguisher.

There also are about a dozen food trucks grouped in two locations — the parking lot in front of Pukalani Stables and gravel lot south of Waimea Elementary and Waimea Middle schools, adjacent to Ala ‘Ōhiʻa Road — to get your grind on.

Before the first units made their way past parade-goers, the Big Island Giving Tree Bucket Brigade fanned out to give people the chance to support the Giving Tree’s holiday outreach to those in need with donations.

Buckets also are located at all of the narrator stations for anyone who wants to lend a hand.

Parade headliner, the Jolly Old Elf himself Santa Claus, confirmed his participation, too.

He will be riding on a magical float created by the staff of Canada-France-Hawai‘i Telescope and W.M. Keck Observatory.

Canada-France-Hawai‘i Telescope is hosting its annual Star Party immediately after the parade at its Waimea headquarters as well, with stargazing and viewing, as weather permits outside and inside, along with make-and-take crafts, holiday goodies and hot chocolate to warm you up.

So come one, come all to make some holiday memories of your own. This year’s parade is one you don’t want to miss.

For more information, click here.

Remaining Christmas parades this year:

• 21st annual Keaʻau Lighted Christmas Parade: 6 p.m. Dec. 14.
• 40th annual Kailua-Kona Community Christmas Parade: 5 p.m. Dec. 14.
• 2nd annual Pāhala Lighted Christmas Parade: 6 p.m. Dec. 14.