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13TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS |
Kauai |
| Address: |
Historic County Building
4396 Rice Street
Lihue, Kauai, HI 96766 |
| Beginning Date: |
12/04/2009 |
| Ending Date: |
12/24/2009 |
| URL: |
http://KauaiFestivalOfLights.com |
| Ticket URL: |
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| Description: |
"NEW" THIS YEAR:
Kauai High's Academy of Hospitality and Tourism decorated a tree with recycled plastic water bottles, appropriately named the Kauai H20 Flakes tree. The students were so enthusiastic about this new, fun and creative "trash to treasure" idea that they created an entire tree for Sheraton Kauai Resort and are teaching guests to make their own!
The Kauai High Japanese Club created an Origami Christmas Tree with 300 miniature origami stars strung and draped down the tree along with 40 complex German-style stars. There is also an outrageous origami tree topper!
Surfin’ Santa is back at Festival of Lights pulled by the roosters … and this year he is joined by a brand new snorkeling elf in an undersea wonderland. The coral is made from the seed pods of the Royal Palm tree. The display was created by Duke’s Canoe Club Manager Jaime Arreola and wife Carol, along with Hanalei Canoe Club Coaches Skip and Kainoa Forrest.
HISTORY:
It all started more than 50 years ago by “Auntie” Josie Chansky, a folk artist born and raised on Kauai. It is because of her art and contribution to the people of the islands that Festival of Lights was created. For nearly 40 years, first on Oahu and then 18 years on Kauai, Auntie Josie opened her home to neighbors, strangers, tourists - everyone and anyone. People just started showing up on her lawn and then at her door. They wanted to see all the Christmas folk art decorations that she created and displayed on the outside and inside of her home. Auntie Josie’s home became known as “The Christmas House.” Generations of families began making “The Christmas House” part of their holiday traditions to see favorites such as a Christmas tree made of 7,500 green toothpicks, wreaths formed from egg cartons, table decorations constructed with seed pods, and a chandelier fashioned from wire coat hangers. Auntie Josie transformed these humble materials into sparkling treasures.
Auntie Josie’s husband passed away in 1996. Out of grief and the sad realization that she did not have the strength to put up all the decorations herself, Auntie Josie held a garage sale. Luckily, the loss of the “The Christmas House” to the community was recognized and her entire collection was saved by a community member and donated to the County of Kauai. Festival of Lights was born and continues to be run today by community volunteers with funding by the County of Kauai, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Young Brothers/Hawaii Tug and Barge, Ace/Ben Franklin Crafts and the Friends of the Festival of Lights.
In 2006, Auntie Josie was honored by both the Senate and the Office of the Mayor for her 50 years of contribution to Hawaii’s holiday season. The Hawaii House of Representatives had also recognized her work in 1975. In 2006, Auntie Josie was honored with Proclamations by both Senator Hooser of the Hawaii State Legislature and Former Kauai Mayor Baptiste for her 50 years of contribution to Hawaii’s holiday season. A week before Auntie Josie’s passing this year on February 3, 2009, Kauai Mayor Carvalho also issued a Proclamation to Auntie Josie. |
FOR MORE INFO |
| Contact: |
Elizabeth Freeman |
| Phone Number: |
808-639-8564 |
| Phone Number Ext: |
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| Email: |
friends@thefestivaloflights.info |
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