Lihu’e Airport’s decade-old tradition of inviting island school children to come and decorate Christmas trees lining the Richard A. Kawakami Terminal walkways is unique in the state. That’s because the other state airports, beset by budget restrictions, have done away
Lihu’e Airport’s decade-old tradition of inviting island school children to come and decorate Christmas trees lining the Richard A. Kawakami Terminal walkways is unique in the state.
That’s because the other state airports, beset by budget restrictions, have done away with the tradition that survives on Kaua’i because of outstanding volunteerism and donations from local businesses.
Over 100 children from 19 schools public and private descended on the airport yesterday to continue the tradition begun by former airport manager Frank Flores in 1990.
They were treated to lunch on the house by Host Marriott Airport Restaurant, got punch from Hawaiian Airlines and Aloha Airlines, macadamia nuts from Aloha Airlines, and chips from the state Department of Transportation Airports Division.
The event not only brings children from schools from Kekaha to Hanalei to the airport, as organizers also welcome special-education students, those with limited English proficiency, and others to mingle with leadership and honors students from other campuses.
Santa even made an appearance, brought across the airfield aboard the bright-yellow airport crash-fire truck.
To expedite the movement of the children and their adult teachers and chaperones into the terminal and not disrupt the flow of ticketed passengers, representatives of the federal Transportation Security Administration sent additional agents to the checkpoint.
The 20 trees, on display from one end of the terminal to the other, will remain on display until the new year.
