Veterans Day
Mayor Rick Blangiardi opens this episode by reflecting on Veterans Day. The mayor attended the Veterans Day Ceremony 2024, hosted by the O’ahu Veterans Council in partnership with the United States Air Force, the Hawai’i Air National Guard and Civil Air Patrol at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl.
“Every time I go to Punchbowl, it’s a spiritual journey for me,” said Mayor Blangiardi. “Part of that is because I was born in 1946. My father fought in World War II the whole time, (he) joined as an 18-year-old kid and came home in ’45.”
Mayor Blangiardi goes on to explain that all his uncles also fought in World War II, so honoring service members and reflecting on Veterans Day is especially moving.
40th Anniversary of Honolulu City Lights
This year, Honolulu City Lights marks its 40th anniversary. The City and County of Honolulu and Friends of Honolulu City Lights are reminding local residents that the opening night festivities – including the tree lighting ceremony, Public Workers’ Electric Light Parade and City Lights block party – are scheduled for Saturday, December 7, 2024.
New this year to commemorate the 40th anniversary of O‘ahu’s iconic holiday celebration, are 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. The new displays were donated by Mike Gangloff of Show Aloha Land and his sponsors, and are designed to bring holiday cheer to local families free of charge.
The month-long celebration of the Honolulu City Lights kicks-off on Dec. 7, 2024 with a block party at 4 p.m. 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. 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.
Mike Gangloff of Show Aloha Land
One of our first questions to Mike Gangloff of Show Aloha Land was, “why are you doing this?”
“This means a lot,” replied Gangloff. “It’s not about Christmas, it’s about community. It’s about you stopping for one second and holding a door open when you (are) real busy. (It’s about) taking that one moment and talking to somebody and saying, ‘I got the time.'”
Gangloff also explains on this episode of the One O’ahu Podcast that he started his popular holiday light displays as a way for local families to have a drive-thru experience when Honolulu City Lights scaled down due to the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. All Honolulu City Lights festivities will take place on the Frank F. Fasi Civic Grounds at Honolulu Hale (530 South King Street) from opening night on Dec. 7 through the end of the year.
