Waimea and all of Hawai’i Island are invited to SAFELY come enjoy the 62ndWaimea Christmas Twilight Parade at 5:30 p.m., Sat., Dec. 3, 2022.
SAFETY is the key to every aspect of this year’s parade which most notably includes an entirely new – much longer - route to safely spread out spectators.
The new route will still mean a road closure thru the heart of Waimea town beginning at 5:30 p.m. and only emergency vehicles will be permitted to pass – so the public is advised to please plan ahead to avoid delays.
Safety rules also include no open fires – no BBQs or hibachis or other possible fire triggers for spectators along the parade route and strong warnings to be careful about parking on dry grass – all to prevent starting a grassfire. As important, families are strongly urged to keep a close on their keiki and no one is permitted to throw candy from floats or lighted units at parade spectators
The new Waimea parade route will begin at Waimea Park (where it used to end), enter Lindsey Road and progress to the main intersection with Mamalahoa Highway (HWY 19), turn left on Mamalahoa, continue thru town to Pukalani Road, turn right on Pukalani back to Ala Ohi’a Road and then proceed along Ala Ohi’a to Kalani Schutte Waimea District Park. It’s a long route with 15 narrator stations to help spread out the crowd and spectators are urged to find a spot along the extended route early.
Loads of planning and community collaboration have gone into re-organizing what is one of Hawai’i’s oldest Christmas parades, best known for its huge brigade of lighted trucks and rigs – and an annual visit by Santa.
This year’s parade highlights include:
Santa re-confirming his participation!
Grand Marshal: Dr. Kū Hinahinakūikahakai Kahakalau
Honored Trucker and Community Aikane: The late Mel Paio
Waimea’s Parade will continue its commitment to supporting Big Island Giving Tree’s outreach to be sure kupuna and others in need are included in the holiday season. BIGT’s annual holiday outreach includes more than 500 Kupuna Bags of food and basic necessities that are delivered to the homes of seniors, plus warm Christmas meals delivered to seniors and homeless. All parade entries and the community are urged to support BIGT; and all donations are tax deductible. There will be BIGT Buckets to accept donations at all narrator stations to simplify giving or go to www.TheBigIslandGivingTree.com/donate. We appreciate all that BIGT does so generously year-round and they appreciate your support.
Dozens of community partners come together to make the Waimea parade possible – most notably the Rotary Club of North Hawai’i, which year after year joins the fun and also provides the essential liability insurance needed to secure parade permits from the County and State.
“We thank our community’s Rotarians for continuing to make this wonderful event possible,” said Waimea Community Association President James Hustace.
Helping make the parade even more fun while keeping everyone safe will be more than 25 narrators at 15 stations along the parade route including Abigail andCherisse Agorastos, Annie Aikau, Leighton Bell, Ginger Bertelmann, Tim Bostock, Makela Bruno, Kari & Gary Clark, David Clarke, O.C. Cunningham, Mike Donnelly, Darde Gamayo, Ilihia Gionson, Miss Hale K of KAPA radio, Iwalani Kaaua, Kirstin Kahaloa, Richard Kaniho, Ku’ulei Keakealani and daughter Nahe, Cherise Mundon, Alaka’i Paleka of KAPA radio, Amy Phillips and Anita Tatum.
"We owe a special mahalo to this year’s expanded list of narrator station sponsors – needed due to the much longer parade route," said Parade Co-Chair Lani Olsen-Chong. These include Ace Hardware, Bank of Hawaii, Big Island Mechanical, DeLuz Trucking, Hawai’i Preparatory Academy, Kamuela Inn, Keck Observatories, Lex Brodie’s, Parker Ranch, Parker Ranch Center, Parker School, Pohakuloa Training Area, Puna Plantation/KTA and Waimea Community Association.
Many others are contributing including generous community friends as well as County of Hawai’i Police, Fire and Emergency Services, and the County’s parks and State road personnel.
For more information, contact Parade Co-Chairs Lani Olsen-Chong (olsenchong@gmail.com - (808) 936-0670) or Kalae Kawamura (k_kawamura92@yahoo.com - (808) 936-4376).