PWO Navigator Milton “Shorty” Bertelmann will serve as grand marshal of the 56th annual Waimea Christmas Twilight Parade on Saturday.
His decades of work to master and help perpetuate the celestial navigation skills of ancient Polynesian voyagers coincides with this year’s theme, “Starlight Christmas,” honoring the community’s celestial navigation past, present and future. The parade will get underway at 5:30 p.m., beginning at the east end of Church Row Park, onto Mamalahoa Highway through town, right onto Lindsey Road at the main intersection passing Parker School and ending at Waimea Park.
The Christmas parade will include dozens of units including churches, schools, youth groups, community organizations, farms, ranches and businesses, plus a large brigade of festively lighted trucks.
After the parade, Santa visit with keiki in the Parker Ranch Center food court.
Also planned post-parade is a Winter Stargazing Party from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope’s Waimea headquarters. CFHT and Keck astronomers and members of the West Hawaii Astronomy Club will host an open house and “Ask An Astronomer” talks. The event is free and includes hot chocolate and cookies.
A road closure will be in effect from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m.
Tongiht, check out the annual Parker Ranch Giant Cooke Pine Tree Lighting from 5 to 7 p.m. at Puuopelu — Parker Ranch’s Historic Homes. The event will also include performances the HPA Handbell Choir and other keiki groups. Free hot chocolate and cookies will be offered.
The 12th annual Waikoloa Village Christmas Parade and Keiki Festival will be held next Saturday, Dec. 10.
The parade, hosted by the Waikoloa Lions Club, starts at 10 a.m. with the keiki festival, sponsored by the Waikoloa Village Association, to follow at Waikoloa School. The festival will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will feature free photos with Santa, activities and more, including a dog parade, best-decorated bike contest and prizes for the best float. Paniolo Avenue will be closed to traffic from 10 to 11 a.m. on Dec. 10.
Later Dec. 10, the 32nd annual Kailua-Kona Community Christmas Parade will light up Kailua Village starting at 5 p.m. This year’s parade theme is “Hawaiian Style Christmas” and more than 70 entries have been confirmed for the parade, which also includes the 5th Annual Menehune Holiday Food Drive, with contributions going to The Food Basket. The food drive is a joint effort of the parade committee, the Food Basket and Rotary Clubs of West Hawaii. Portions of Kuakini Highway, Alii Drive and Walua Road will be closed during the event.
