Episode 177: Warren Mamizuka and Chassity Santiago on Honolulu City Lights 2026
This week on the One O‘ahu Podcast, Dept. of Facility Maintenance (DFM) Deputy Director Warren Mamizuka and DFM Public Information Officer Chassity Santiago join host Brandi Higa to talk about an earlier than usual setup for Honolulu City Lights this year and why. Plus, we dive into this year’s theme and what to expect on opening night on Dec. 5, 2026.
Christmas (setup) in October
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Honolulu Hale. City crews will begin installing holiday lights in the trees on the Frank F. Fasi Civic Center Grounds on Oct. 19 as preparations begin for the 2026 Honolulu City Lights. This year, to commemorate the 42nd anniversary of O‘ahu’s iconic holiday celebration, Mike Gangloff of Show Aloha Land and his sponsors are bringing displays back to the Civic Center Grounds. The free displays include 250 feet of lighted tunnels, fifty illuminated trees throughout the grounds, a train for keiki rides, and festive motifs lining Alapa‘i and Beretania Streets.
“We’re moving Show Aloha back to the Honolulu Civic Center grounds so we’re kind of redoing everything,” explained Mamizuka. “So we kind of don’t know how long it’ll take us to setup so we decided to start in October.”
The Show Aloha displays will join the traditional ones like Shaka Santa and Tūtū Mele, the ABC Blocks, and the Gnomes, just to name a few! Also new this year, displays will stretch onto portions of the grass near the State of Hawai’i’s Kalanimoku building.
Christmas in the Country
Get ready to bust out your boots, cowboy hats, belt buckles, and palaka prints, as this year’s theme for Honolulu City Lights is “Christmas in the Country.”
“We do have some very enthusiastic people in the city who are very excited to display ‘Christmas in the Country’ on their trees as well,” added Chassity Santiago on this week’s episode of the One O’ahu Podcast.
The paniolo-inspired theme will be evident in everything from the City Department Trees in the Honolulu Hale courtyard to the wreath contest and opening night celebration.
Opening Night 2026
The month-long celebration of Honolulu City Lights kicks off with a block party at 4 p.m. on Dec. 5, 2026 on Punchbowl Street and across the Frank F. Fasi Civic Grounds. The Public Workers’ Electric Light Parade begins at 6:15 p.m. from ‘A‘ala Park. Then, as the Electric Light Parade passes Honolulu Hale, Mayor Rick Blangiardi will illuminate Honolulu Hale’s holiday tree and the lights and displays decorating the grounds.
“We do have a very amazing person, I’ll keep, as far as who it is, a surprise, but I think we’re going to have quite a great in-house entertainer for our opening act for the opening night,” said Chassity Santiago.
For more information on the 2026 Honolulu City Lights, please visit hnlcitylights.com.
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