Festival of Lights

For more than 75 years, generations of families have included “trash to treasure” Christmas decor as part of their holiday traditions. It started with the late Auntie Josie Chansky who opened her home for nearly 50 years to share pieces made from recycled flash cubes, beer caps, soda cans, egg cartons and more. When the display became too much to handle, local artist Elizabeth Freeman purchased the collection and worked with the County of Kauai to store and help host what is now known as “Festival of Lights.” Produced by Elizabeth for more than 25 years, the festival features Auntie Josie’s pieces, plus Elizabeth’s designs constructed by volunteers that make up most of the display. The collection’s signature piece is the “Aloha Recycled Treasures” tree decorated with plastic water bottles, which made its debut in 2010 at the U.S. Capitol by invite of the late Hawaii Senator Daniel K. Inouye.

Elizabeth teaches the value of recycling with every new piece of art constructed from recycled aluminum cans, plastic containers, water bottles and other upcycled materials. Themes are influenced by local culture. The “If Can, Can” tree features recycled aluminum cans; the “Lure of the Sea” tree is decorated with embossed recycled aluminum cans and recycled containers; “Fire and Rain” features cutlery morphed to represent 2018’s Kilauea Volcano eruption and Kauai’s 50 inches of rain within 24 hours; and “Honu Heaven” is decorated with sea turtles made from bakery and sushi platter lids and attached to pipe cleaners, allowing them to “swim” or move with the vibration of passersby. Elizabeth’s designs also include expansive wall and floor displays, and a running electric toy train.

Since the pandemic, the festival had been limited to courtyard lighting and window displays. The new location at Kukui Grove Center in Lihue has marked a new beginning.  Elizabeth Freeman’s Festival of Lights now displays more than half of the full collection. Festival of Lights is open through Dec. 29, 2024, Thursday-Saturday 5-8 p.m., and Sunday 4-6 p.m. Also open Christmas Eve 4-6 p.m. Free Admission. Elizabeth Freeman and volunteer student docents are present to share the history of the event and origins of the collection pieces.

http://www.KauaiFestivalOfLights.com