Festival of Lights reopens, once again displaying upcycled trash that became festive treasures

Kaua‘i’s most celebrated holiday event is welcoming families at a new location.

Elizabeth Freeman’s Festival of Lights, renowned for sharing the importance of sustainability through festive art, is now open at Kukui Grove Center in Līhuʻe.

Festival of Lights was Kaua‘i’s largest holiday event, draw tens of thousands of people every year for the past 25 years to the Historic County Building with its dozens of trees, decorations and floor-to-ceiling displays made from recycled and reclaimed materials.

The COVID-19 pandemic dwindled the blazing brightness of the festival’s lights to a glimmer, forcing it to be limited to just courtyard lighting and window displays.

Relocating this year to its new home at Kukui Grove Center allowed more than half of the entire festival collection to once again be on display for the public to enjoy in person.

Artist, designer and Festival of Lights founder Freeman and volunteer student docents are available to share the history of the event and origins of the collection from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 4 to 6 p.m. Saturdays through Dec. 29.

Festival of Lights is also open 4 to 6 p.m. Christmas Eve.

Admission is free.

Freeman purchased 50 years of festive eco-crafts from Auntie Josie Chansky nearly 30 years ago and donated it to Kaua‘i County, igniting the shining holiday tradition of Festival of Lights.

Dozens of themed trees, influenced by local culture, are covered with ornaments made using recycled aluminum cans, plastic containers, water bottles and other reused materials.

The nationally recognized Aloha Recycled Treasures Tree — debuting in 2010 at the U.S. Capitol on an invitation by the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye of Hawai’i — is decorated with plastic water bottles.

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 the 2018 eruption and lava flow of Kilauea volcano on the Big Island and the 50 inches of rain Kaua‘i received within 24 hours in April of the same year from a record-setting rainstorm.

“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.

You’ll also find the “SPAM Can” Tree, “Hōkūleʻa Aloha” Tree, “Kīlauea Lighthouse,” “Princess Kaʻiulani Peacock” and so much more.

The full collection includes expansive wall and floor displays and a running electric toy train as well.

More than 65% of the collection is Freeman’s own designs — everything crafted from recycled materials.

Freeman’s background is in interior design, graphic design and magazine design. Her work has been displayed at The Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., and Museum of Arts and Design in New York.

She lives on Kaua‘i and now inspires people, teaching them how to upcycle trash into treasured pieces of art.

Visit the Festival of Lights website to learn more about this Garden Isle time-honored Yuletide tradition.