LIHU‘E — The saying “If can, can” takes on a new meaning for the holidays. “This tree needs to be changed,” said Elizabeth Freeman, chair of the Festival of Lights. “It’s been to Washington, D.C., it’s been displayed in the
LIHU‘E — The saying “If can, can” takes on a new meaning for the holidays.
“This tree needs to be changed,” said Elizabeth Freeman, chair of the Festival of Lights. “It’s been to Washington, D.C., it’s been displayed in the Mayor’s Office, and it’s been a part of the Festival of Lights. Now, it’s time for something new.”
But the ornaments, created out of discarded plastic water bottles, which adorn the special Christmas tree, won’t be discarded. Instead, Freeman said they will be moved to a smaller tree and ornaments being created by students from the Kaua‘i High School Academy of Hospitality and Tourism and the Kapa‘a High School Interact Club will replace the open spaces.
This year, the plastic water bottle ornaments will be replaced by ornaments, which once had life as beverage containers.
Freeman created several examples, which serve as motivational take-off samples. The students were encouraged to delve into their creative inner selves to make ornaments out of former aluminum beverage containers.
Artisans Keiko Beckman and Pam Hoffman worked with Freeman while encouraging and admiring the work of the students in the area where the previous years’ displays were stored.
Blake Salmers, described as a master carpenter by Freeman, cut the tops and bottoms from more than 200 cans so the high school students, and others willing volunteers, could create ornaments. The goal was to have 150 creations for the tree, which will be highlighted in the lobby of the historic County Building.
“There’re no sharp edges for the teens to worry about,” Freeman said. “He used a special blade on his table saw. Volunteers from the Lifetime Stand program at the Kaua‘i Community Correctional Center worked to open, clean and create flat sheets out of the cans.”
Those efforts created the pool from which the students, working in a quiet corner of the Pi‘ikoi Building, could fashion this year’s “If Can, Can” display.
The fruits of their labor will be unveiled Dec. 7 during the Festival of Lights lighting ceremony, which starts at 6 p.m. ahead of the annual Rotary Club of Kaua‘i Lights on Rice holiday parade.
The display inside the historic County Building will be available for viewing each Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. from Dec. 7 through Dec. 24. Complementing the interior display of traditional and historic artifacts from the Josie Chansky collection, the exterior of the historic County Building will be lit up and available for enjoying each night from Dec. 7 through the holidays.
The Kaua‘i Fire Department started work lighting the trees, getting help from Keith Ruiz of Oceanic Time Warner Cable and Bobby Thompson of Hawaiian Telcom.
Curran Chang, a lineman with Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative, also lent his expertise in stringing the lights with the help of Genies donated by Service Rentals and Toolmaster.
Tevita “Manu” Fonua, the Festival of Lights park logistics coordinator, makes his appearance next week to wrap and weatherize the power strips and meet with Warren Koga and the county’s electricians to ensure the proper loads.
Visit the website www.kauaifestivaloflights.com for more information.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
