Two grinches and the Pirates of the Caribbean welcomed thousands of people converging on the main street of Waimea town Saturday night. “This is definitely one of the big events for Waimea,” said Edwin Vea, who watched the 12th Annual
Two grinches and the Pirates of the Caribbean welcomed thousands of people converging on the main street of Waimea town Saturday night.
“This is definitely one of the big events for Waimea,” said Edwin Vea, who watched the 12th Annual Waimea Lighted Christmas Parade with his parents. “The other big event is the Waimea Town Celebration (in February).”
Traffic that came to a standstill following the closure of the main road snaked back along the highway and a steady stream of people walked into Waimea town to try and find a vantage point along the parade route.
Rachele and Leilani Higashi and their cousin Josie Sasaki had the right idea, enjoying a plate of spaghetti outside their home, which was deemed Most Brilliant residence in the Waimea Streetfront Decorating Contest, held earlier in the week.
Rachele Higashi said they had purchased the tickets from Waimea High School varsity soccer player Vakeesha Lagazo, who was engaged in a Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation soccer game in Kapa‘a and not in attendance.
However, Lagazo’s basketball sisters were set up outside the Big Save store dispensing spaghetti dinners as a fundraiser.
Similarly, other community groups were set up throughout the town to take care of the flood of people setting up to watch the parade.
The Ayau ‘ohana, known for its spectacular showings in previous parades, did not disappoint, as its focal point was a pirate ship formed around the core of a trailer loaned by Kainoa and Maryann Huddy.
Supporting the pirate ship bristling with pirates and pirate lasses (from the ‘ohana), smaller support “vessels” kept the mother ship, pulled by a yellow pickup that was decorated to complement the ship, safe from renegades.
The Grinch, appearing last year as part of the Kaua‘i Police Department’s entry, jumped ship this year as he was aboard a Pioneer Hi-Bred unit being pulled by a tractor. But he could not stay put as he became part of the West Kaua‘i Medical unit further in the parade.
Eileen Naka‘ahiki, a longtime supporter of the annual parade, said she had less than four days to work on the Waimea Christmas Angel that formed the core of an entry from Mayor Bernard Carvalho, the County of Kaua‘i, the Kikiaola Land Company and Waimea Plantation Cottage that heralded the start of the parade through a powerful public address system delivering the mele of its featured singers.
A live nativity scene featuring the various native peoples of Polynesia formed the heart of the St. Theresa School unit, its singers performing live Christmas carols that thrilled the seemingly endless sea of spectators that lined both sides of the main street through Waimea.
“We thought we were early, but people were already holding place from about 3:30 (p.m.),” Vea said.
Following the parade, traffic continued to stay locked as waves of people that flowed in across the Waimea River bridge reversed the tide to make their way to cars parked on the far side of the river.
Pioneer Hi-Bred opened one of its lots to help accommodate some of the parking, but cars overflowed along the highway to beyond the Kapalawai entrance.
“It’s OK,” Vea said. “We’re parked on the other side of the street, but we’re in a good spot since we have live entertainment from the 76 Station, and I can play Santa Claus.”
Further in town, Kapena provided a post-parade concert from the central stage set up outside the First Hawaiian Bank building.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or via e-mail at dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com
