LIHU‘E — It has taken several years, but on Wednesday, the spirit of the holidays returned to the State of Hawai‘i Building at the junction of Hardy and Eiwa streets. “I remember when there was a huge garland strung up
LIHU‘E — It has taken several years, but on Wednesday, the spirit of the holidays returned to the State of Hawai‘i Building at the junction of Hardy and Eiwa streets.
“I remember when there was a huge garland strung up on the outside,” said Wanda Shibata, the Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s liaison. “And people used to decorate around that.”
Shibata spearheaded an effort to bring back the spirit of the holidays, arranging to have a large Norfolk delivered by the state’s Department of Forestry.
“We had a tree last year, but before then, it was low key,” an employee said. “There was too much talk of budgets and cutbacks.”
Shibata said they had a Norfolk delivered to the governor’s office Friday and decided they wanted to see the state building decked, too.
The former location behind the stairs had a pedestal where a large tree could sit, but once set up, no one could see it unless they went looking for it.
The Forestry personnel had to move it in at an angle so it could be visible, clearing the area once the decorations were set up.
In the tradition of previous years, the “elves,” once their task was completed in a matter of minutes, adjourned to enjoy lunch hour together.
People can view the tree and the decorations around some of the state offices in the building during the normal operating hours.
