This week on the One O‘ahu Podcast, Dept. of Facility Maintenance (DFM) Deputy Director Warren Mamizuka and DFM Public Information Officer Chassity Santiago join host Brandi Higa to talk about what you can expect at this year’s Honolulu City Lights.
Light tunnel and train rides join traditional displays on the Fasi Grounds to commemorate 42nd anniversary of Honolulu City Lights
News Release from Office of the Mayor, October 19, 2026
HONOLULU – It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Honolulu Hale and today, City crews began installing holiday displays on the Frank F. Fasi Civic Center Grounds as preparations begin for the 2026 Honolulu City Lights. Get ready to bust out your boots, cowboy hats, Western belt buckles, and palaka prints, as this year’s theme for Honolulu City Lights is “Christmas in the Country.”
This year, to commemorate the 42nd anniversary of O‘ahu’s iconic holiday celebration, Mike Gangloff of Show Aloha Land and his sponsors are bringing displays back to the Civic Center Grounds. The free displays include a lighted tunnel, illuminated trees throughout the grounds, a train for keiki rides, and festive motifs lining Alapa‘i and Beretania Streets. These displays will join beloved traditional displays created by the Friends of Honolulu City Lights, including Shaka Santa and Tūtū Mele, the ABC Blocks, and the Gnomes, just to name a few!
The month-long celebration of Honolulu City Lights kicks off with a block party at 4 p.m. on Dec. 5, 2026 on Punchbowl Street and across the Frank F. Fasi Civic Grounds. The Public Workers’ Electric Light Parade begins at 6 p.m. from ‘A‘ala Park. Then, as the Electric Light Parade passes Honolulu Hale, Mayor Rick Blangiardi will illuminate Honolulu Hale’s holiday tree and the lights and displays decorating the grounds. Visit hnlcitylights.com for more details.
HNN: Honolulu City Lights preparations underway with new light tunnel, train rides | Hawaii News Now
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Applications open for vendors, participants of Kapolei City Lights’ opening night!
The seasonal celebration is scheduled to begin Saturday, November 28, 2026 with a block party and parade
DPR News Release, September 17, 2026
The City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) is getting ready for “Paniolo Nights & Holiday Lights” with preparations underway for the annual Kapolei City Lights Block Party and Parade on Saturday, November 28, 2026!
This includes encouraging local vendors and interested parade participants to be part of these opening night festivities, with applications now being accepted to take part in this rodeo of an event. Those applications are now available online on the Kapolei City Lights official website: bit.ly/kapoleicitylights
Or you can use the following links to be taken directly to the online applications:
Block Party Food Vendor: bit.ly/kapoleifood
Block Party Non-Food Vendor: bit.ly/kapoleivendor
Parade Participants: bit.ly/paradeapplication
You can also fill-out and submit physical copies of the applications to DPR’s Kapolei Hale Office, on non-holiday weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at:
Attn: KCL Block Party Committee
1000 Ulu‘ōhi‘a Street
Suite 308
Kapolei, HI 96707
Parade applications are due by Monday, October 12, 2026 at 4 p.m. (HST).
Block Party applications are due by Friday, October 16, 2026 at 5 p.m. (HST).
The block party is scheduled from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, November 28, 2026 around Kapolei Hale, with the parade beginning 5:30 p.m. from Kapolei High School, cruising down Kapolei Parkway, before ending near the block party.
Spectators and members of the general public interested in enjoying these opening night festivities need not apply. Just show up and enjoy the holiday events, as entry to the block party and parade are free of charge!
Additional details about the opening night festivities, such as parking and entertainment, will be announced once they are confirmed. Rest assured, there will be plenty of merry music, dazzling decorations, and holiday cheer for the whole ‘ohana!
The luminous decorations of Kapolei City Lights 2026 will be open to the public from the evening of Saturday, November 28, 2026 through Sunday, January 3, 2027. This year, the Kapolei City Lights decorations and festivities will follow the “Paniolo Nights and Holidays Lights” theme, bringing together the rich heritage of Hawaiʻi’s paniolo culture with the sparkle and joy of the holiday season. With twinkling lights, festive décor, slack-key guitar music, seasonal treats, and community celebration, “Paniolo Nights & Holiday Lights” will offer a uniquely local way to celebrate the holidays and share the spirit of the season.
This theme complements the Honolulu City Lights theme of “Christmas in the Country”. Centered around Honolulu Hale, Honolulu City Lights will also commence their annual celebration with an opening night parade scheduled for Saturday, December 5, 2026. More information and details about these Honolulu events are available on their website: hnlcitylights.com
Kapolei City Lights has been spreading seasonal joy to the ever-growing Leeward O‘ahu community since 2001. Mahalo to the Leeward O‘ahu community and beyond for their continued support of this legacy holiday tradition.
If you need an auxiliary aid/service, other accommodations due to a disability, or an interpreter for a language other than English in reference to this announcement, please contact the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation at (808) 768-3003 on weekdays from 7:45 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. or email [email protected] at least three business days before the scheduled event. Without sufficient advanced notice, it may not be possible to fulfill requests.
—PAU—
NR: DHLM raises holiday cheer for its Honolulu City Lights tree | Department of Housing and Land Management
Follow the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation online and on social media: