LIHU‘E — Rosie Rapozo could not help herself Tuesday night.
“Hallelujah!”
The words escaped the lips of the Kaua‘i Bus volunteer while she was working to create a float for the 12th annual Lights on Rice parade this week.
Earlier, Rapozo was holding up the panel containing hundreds, if not thousands, of lights outlining “The Kaua‘i Bus” as Moe Labuguen worked light by light to find the offending culprit that kept the panel dark while Rapozo kept saying “please … please” each time the probe worked a lamp.
Suddenly, there was light and Rapozo was jubilant.
“We do this only once a year,” said Raymond Rapozo, another Kaua‘i Bus employee. “It has to be good.”
The Kaua‘i Bus will form the centerpiece for Kaua‘i Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. and his staff who will lead off the parade, starting at 6:30 p.m., Friday.
Rice Street between Kapule Highway and Haleko Roads will be closed to vehicular traffic starting at 6 p.m. until the parade passes through.
Ho‘olako Street from Rice Street to Ka‘ana Street will also be closed. Access to Ho‘olako from Puaole, Oihana and Halau streets will also be closed so the parade can stage.
Access to Rice Street from Kalena, Hardy, Kress, Ewalu and Eiwa Streets will also be closed until the parade passes through.
There will be no parking on Rice Street until after the parade passes.
People attending the parade can take advantage of the free shuttle buses running from the Big Kmart parking lot to behind the Kaua‘i Museum starting at 5:30 p.m., Friday.
Ron Clark, a shuttle driver for the past 11 parades, said Kmart plans to have two shuttles running to accommodate people for the event.
The Lights on Rice parade is the finale of a day-long series of events that starts with the opening of the Kaua‘i Museum craft fair at 10 a.m. which, in addition to unique items available to shoppers, extends to include food offerings including the malasada from the West Kaua‘i Methodist Church. Other offerings include assorted plate lunches, salads and Hawaiian food. A full lineup of free local-style entertainment fills the day with music on the front steps of the museum. The fair runs through 8 p.m.
At 6 p.m., Carvalho will be joining the Festival of Lights committee in hosting a lighting ceremony on the steps of the Historic County Building. Following the ceremony, Carvalho will join the Lights on Rice parade at the intersection of Kalena and Rice streets.
The Festival of Lights features thousands of lights strung up on the lawn of the Historic County Building as well as unique handmade creations by the Chansky family who used to open their home to people during the holidays.
This display will be available for viewing through New Year’s.
“When you hear people talking about plans for the parade, you know you have an event,” said Carol Texeira of the Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce. “I know where our spot (for viewing) is going to be.”
There are no admission fees for the museum event, the lighting ceremony, or the parade. Everyone is invited to attend and have fun.
Due to the large number of people that come in to welcome the holidays, the organizers ask people to be courteous and exercise the habit of taking out their opala.
The event is made possible through the support of the County of Kaua‘i, a grant from the Young Brothers Community Advisory Board, the Big Kmart, Garden Isle Disposal, the Kukui‘ula Development Company, the Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau, the Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Kaua‘i and numerous other community organizations and businesses.
