‘All is Bright’ Christmas Light Parade & Hoʻolauleʻa

Photo by PF Bentley

By Léo Azambuja

The Christmas spirit is officially far and wide on Molokai. Several hundred people crowded the sidewalks of Ala Malama Avenue in Kaunakakai to watch the traditional Christmas parade last Saturday.

“Ladies and gentlemen, a round of applause for our fire department,” one of the emcees for the 2025 Molokai Christmas Light Parade said as Engine 4 and Tanker 4 opened the parade. “A big mahalo to them for all that they do for our community.”

This year’s parade organizers called for big and small floats to be decorated with lights to fit the “All Is Bright” theme of the event. Accordingly, the businesses lining up Ala Malama Avenue were decorated with bright lights too.

The parade — along with the Hoʻolauleʻa and the Bed Race — was one of three main events happening in Kaunakakai on the evening of Dec. 6. The parade started as soon as it got dark, just after 6 p.m. For about 40 minutes, several large floats, along with smaller floats, motorcycles and even a long line of mud boggers paraded through town. 

Emcees Kananikalā Bishaw-Juario and Leinaala Lopez brought some fun entertainment to the event with their wit humor as decorated floats and trucks paraded through town.

“We love you guys. We don’t like see you, but we love you guys,” they jokingly told the crew riding the American Medical Response ambulance, the second team riding through the parade right after the Maui Fire Department.

It was only then that Santa Claus showed up, walking on the street alongside Stitch, who “fell off one rocket ship and landed smack-dab in Hawaii,” the emcees said. 

“We live on a small island in the middle of the ocean, and Santa and Stitch found us. Can you believe it?” they said. “Aloha Stitch, aloha. ‘Ohana means family.’ Hi Santa, we love you.”

A large float from Misaki’s Groceries and Dry Goods brought a message of Joy in bright lights, along with a banner wishing a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Misaki’s was also the winner of the fun Bed Race in Kaunakakai earlier in the evening.

“They are here to bring some joy, like their float says, with shopping carts full of presents and toys, delivering aloha and cheer to all of you with our songs and laughter and our koloheness,” the emcees said.

photo by PF Bentley

Friendly Market brought a float with hula dancers on the back, and a large crew of blue shirts walking along. Their message emphasized Molokai’s hula roots and reminded us the children’s radiant joy is “one of the greatest gifts of all.”

“We mahalo you Molokai for your continued support forever and always. Let us not forget that nothing can dim the light that shines from within ourselves,” the emcees said while reading Friendly Market’s Christmas message.

Every occupant of the Alaska Polar Bear Express float, “coming all the way from the Great Frontier” to Molokai, was dressed in white from head to toe. The float had white lights all over it, surfboards in the back, and a happy white fluffy dog.

“They’re all in white, but not for long, until they touch the Molokai red dirt,” the emcees wittily said.

Molokai Baptist Church’s float brought a message reminding that Jesus, born 2,000 years ago, is the light of the world and the way out of the darkness.

Maui Electric Company brought a couple large floats. Bayer had a float carrying a nativity scene and surrounded by children. 

The Maui Police Department float had a message saying they were bringing the “island spirit to life with a joyful parade of snowmen who clearly booked the wrong flight and ended up in the tropics.”

“From all of us at MPD Molokai, we are proud to share a little holiday joy and wish every family on this Friendly Isle, Mele Kalikimaka and a sweet kind of aloha,” the emcees said while reading the police department’s message.

Kukui paddling team, a boys and girls club age 13 to 18 coached by Kekama Helm, were also present, displaying a beautiful Hawaiian outrigger koa canoe.

After the parade ended, much of the crowd left for the Hoʻolauleʻa at the ball park, where there were food and drink booths, craft vendors, a fashion show, photos with Santa, a keiki playing station, games and live music.

For the Christmas Parade and the Hoʻolauleʻa, Ala Malama Avenue and Ainoa Street were closed, as well as portions of Mohala and Kamoi streets. The event was possible due to help from 25 different sponsors.