Let there be light; Collaborative effort makes downtown Hilo more holiday friendly

Bells, Christmas trees, stars and candy canes — there are some new additions to Kamehameha Avenue in Hilo.

The bright LED fixtures were installed Friday morning as part of a county and Downtown Improvement Association collaboration to help brighten Hilo for the holidays.

“The main goal was lighting up downtown to get people in the holiday festive spirit,” said DIA president Jeff Mermel.

Volunteers from T&T Electric joined with county employees in the Department of Public Works traffic division to hang the 21 light sculptures.

The Kamehameha fixtures are the final touch on a project that began before the 30th annual Hilo Christmas Light Parade. The parade itself almost didn’t happen due to a lack of funds and manpower, but was saved thanks to a last-minute outreach and a group of volunteers led by Tony Misiaszek and Lani Walters.

The occasion merited a little extra cheer.

“We wanted to light up the route for the parade,” Mermel said.

Association members went door to door visiting the businesses along the route and handing out strands of LED icicle lights. The DIA and the county partnered to share expenses, Mermel said.

Misiaszek said the extra lighting downtown also was allowing people to stay longer in the area after dark because they felt safer.

“We’re trying to encourage leaving the lights up all year,” Mermel said.

With phase one complete, the group moved on to its next task: getting not only Kamehameha Avenue but the bus terminal and Mooheau Bandstand into the spirit of things.

Mermel estimated that more than 15 years had gone by since the streetlights were last decorated. He’s been getting — fittingly — glowing feedback about the project.

“We want to get more lights next year,” he said.

Email Ivy Ashe at iashe@hawaiitribune-herald.com.