DECEMBER 08, 2007 - People watched as the city Christmas tree was lit in front of Kapolei Hale during the Kapolei Hale City Lights event. Exposure details: Canon EOS 20D, EF-S 10-22mm f3.5-4.5mm (at 13mm), Manual, 1/15 sec at f/4, ISO 3200, Auto white balance

“The greeting cards have all been sent, and the Christmas rush is through…”

Yeah, sort of.

It’s Christmas time! And we all know what that means… loads of holiday-themed wild art.

More Ho! Ho! Ho! than anyone should rightfully stomach.

Or maybe I’m just getting all Ebenezer in my old age.

Anyway, I was fingered to hit the Kapolei City lights fandango. I knew there would be crowds, so I got there early to secure parking and get “in the mood.”

I decided I’d hang at the intersection of Kapolei Parkway, and that road that leads to Kapolei Hale. I was supposed to get the dramatic lighting of the tree, so I thought that would be a convenient place. Easy to get from parade action to the tree.

The street was lined with barricades — something I don’t see too often at parades (and I’ve been to too many in my time). It was dramatic foreshadowing.

I was hanging out in the intersection, talking with a police officer (who had seen his fair share of parades, he noted) waiting for the fun to begin. I noticed loads of people coming in. And more, and more. “Lot of people,” I casually noted. “Whoa, yeah, plenty people come to this,” he replied, calmly fiddling with his police radio.

A police car rolled up behind me. There was a change in plans, and some of the barricades were to be shifted to let more people crowd into the intersection.

I noticed a strange tension in the air.

Isn’t this Christmas? Good moods, wassail, and yule logs?

I could see the parade inching towards us, still about three blocks away. Finally some action.

“Hey! HEY! We can’t see!” Someone shouted at me and a bunch of cops and a few other news photogs in the intersection.

“There’s nothing to see,” I thought.

“Hey! Star-Bulletin, YOU’RE IN THE WAY!”

Uh, oh. I was wearing a Bulletin shirt. Yeah, I was “that guy.” I’m always “that guy.”

People were getting surly, and the parade wasn’t even here yet.

I moved to where the cop car was parked, using that as a shield. The crowd then sicked itself on the car. “Move the car! We can’t see!!”

A sheepish cop came over and quickly moved the car. Leaving me naked and exposed again.

Rather than risk the wrath of the frothing mob, I ran across the street and hid next to a portable light they had set up to light the parade route.

And the parade wasn’t even here yet.

Finally they made the turn and the cars and floats came down the road. People cheered. I ducked and prayed that nobody would go off on me anymore.

People pressed against the barriers, cheering and yelling like it was the last parade man would ever see.

I basked in the sheer strangeness of it all.

Barricades lent a certain rock concert feel to the spectacle.

Oh yeah, there was a parade to shoot.

It was one of those light parades so everything was lit up like, well, the proverbial Christmas tree.

Weird lens flare added a nicely strange touch to an inflatable Santa.

I decided I’d head down to the scene of the tree lighting. Mobs of people had the same idea and the area was packed. Luckily I found a patch of open space by the stage and took refuge there.

The Royal Hawaiian Band worked through some merry Christmas standards, and crowd replied with a smattering of applause after each tune. They wanted lights. Hit the juice, man! Light this place up!

Hold the phone. Mayor Mufi hit the stage with his brother Nephi for a holiday tune backed by the band. Anyone holding a camera went running to the front of the stage. Sure, why not, I’ll go too. It’ll add to the spectacle.

Mufi and Nephi Hannemann sing for the crowd.

UH football players were on the stage. They were introduced. The crowd went wild.

Then it was time for the lights. There was no “switch.” No TNT detonator. Not even two ends of extension cords to connect.

There was, however, a countdown. I wandered over into the crowd, and blinky-blink, on went the lights.

People cheered, seemingly satisfied with the end result of it all.

Ho, ho, ho.