After being canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hilo’s beloved Christmas Lights parade was back in 2022. Photo Credit: Megan Moseley
There were about 40 entries in Hilo’s beloved Christmas Lights Parade on Nov. 26, 2022. Photo Credit: Megan Moseley
The Waiākea High School Band was among the 40 or so entries of the 2022 Christmas lights parade in Hilo. Photo Credit: Megan Moseley
Nothing was off limits to decorate with lights at the 2022 Hilo Christmas parade. Photo Credit: Megan Moseley
The 2022 Hilo Christmas Lights parade. Photo Credit: Megan Moseley
After being canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hilo’s beloved Christmas lights parade was back Saturday night, with hundreds of residents lining the downtown streets to enjoy the festivities.
“I think people need this,” said Danielle Preston, 27, from Mountain View.
She was standing along Hilo’s Bayfront with her family: “I think this is very fun. The community is so excited. I love to see the people dancing.”
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The parade, which included around 40 entries and more than 700 individuals, began at about 6 p.m. at Pauahi Street and continued through town to Kamehameha Avenue.
The East Hawai’i Lions Club spearheaded the festivities of Christmas music, colorful lights and family fun. The parade lasted about 90 minutes and included floats and lit-up walkers from the Hawai‘i County Mayor’s office, Kea’au Cougar Marching Band, the Hilo High School Viking Band, the Waiākea High School Band and the National Guard Youth Challenge Academy.
“This year’s parade was fantastic,” said Hilo resident Marcella Stroh. “It was very high-energy and the kids loved it. This one is perfect. It was cool, not too cold, and everything was perfect.”
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Tiana Ahuna, 30, from Kurtistown, was with her husband and her two toddlers.
“They loved the dump trucks and all the lights,” she said about her children. “I think that’s the draw of having the parade at night because you get to see the lights at night. It was their first time and our first time and we’ll be back next year.”
Megan Moseley Megan Moseley is a full-time journalist for Pacific Media Group. Her experience ranges from long and short-form reporting to print, digital, radio and television news coverage. In Hawaiʻi, she's worked for local media outlets and has covered a wide range of topics including local and state politics, environmental affairs, Native Hawaiian issues, travel, tourism and education. She covers the West for Restaurant Hospitality.
She's a 2010 graduate of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University, with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Magazine Journalism and specializations in Geology and History. She's currently working on her master's degree from New York University and Ohio University and is focused on conflict resolution and peace practices in indigenous cultures in the Pacific.
Megan can be reached at [email protected]. Read Full Bio
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