Kaua’i boat owners plan to usher in the holiday season with a parade of decorated boats that will light up Nawiliwili Harbor and Kalapaki Bay tonight. The vessels in the sixth annual Boat Parade of Lights and Christmas Party will
Kaua’i boat owners plan to usher in the holiday season with a parade of decorated boats that will light up Nawiliwili Harbor and Kalapaki Bay tonight.
The vessels in the sixth annual Boat Parade of Lights and Christmas Party will be festooned with thousands of sparkling and twinkling lights when they pass by the Nawiliwili Bay jetty and Kalapaki Bay near the Kaua’i Marriott Resort. The parade starts at 6 p.m.
The event, hosted by the 193-member Nawiliwili Yacht Club is being held in the spirit of Christmas and fellowship, according to organizer Sharon Gibson.
The club hopes the event will one day rival the yearly Christmas season parade of boats at the Ala Wai Harbor on O’ahu – perhaps not in numbers because there are so many more boat owners on O’ahu, but in spirit, said Gibson.
Between seven and eight boats participated in the Kaua’i boat parade when it started in 1995.
For this Christmas, four boat owners had signed up earlier this week, but more were expected to come out as the event draws closer, Gibson said.
“It is a last minute thing with many of our (club) members,” Gibson said. “Often people wait to see what the weather will be like. It is really looking good right now. It is going to be sunny and the winds are going to be light. So we can expect more people to sign up.” Among the boats that are to be part of the parade: l The Malihini, a 35-foot catamaran owned by Doug and Sharon Gibson of Koloa.
l The Coyote, a 38-foot mono-hull boat belonging Woodie Cole from Kalaheo.
l The Coquette, a 30-foot mono-hull that’s owned by Keith Sakai from Koloa.
l The Cat-O-Tonic, a 16-foot Beachcat owned by Pat Salling of Lihu’e.
All four boat owners are yacht club members.
Boat owners who are not members of the club are encouraged to sign up for the event, decorate their boats and join in the procession, Gibson said.
Spectators can get a birds-eye view of the boats from the Nawiliwili Small Boat Harbor or by the jetty.
The evening continues with a party at Duke’s Canoe Club. Seating for dinner is at 8 p.m., with a no-host bar and no-host menu. There is no admission fee.
A silent auction and raffle will be held, and trophies from the yacht club’s racing season will be presented.
“Boat parades happen every year in harbors all over Hawai’i,” Gibson said. “We want to support that here. We want this event on Kaua’i to grow really big with lots and lots of boats.” The Nawiliwili Yacht Club was established in 1978.
To enter boats in the Boat Parade of Lights or to get more information about the event, boaters can fill out a sign-up sheet at the Nawiliwili Small Boat Harbor or contact Sharon Gibson at 742-2512. She also is taking reservations for the Christmas party dinner following the parade.
Staff writer Lester Chang can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) and lchang@pulitzer.net.
