Residents and visitors to Līhu‘e should prepare for the festive Lights on Rice Parade, scheduled for December 5, starting at 6:30 p.m. A local favorite, this parade will span from Vidinha Stadium down Ho‘olako and Rice Streets, ending at the Historic County Building on ‘Eiwa Street. As reported by the official county announcement, be sure to plan your travel accordingly as road closures will be in effect from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., or until the parade has conclusively ended.
To ensure a smooth procession and the overall safety of the event, Kaua‘i Police Department has announced they will begin to strictly enforce no parking along the parade route at 5:00 p.m. on the day of the parade. Commuters are expected to experience delays and are recommended to possibly find alternative routes during this time. This temporary obstacle is not only to make way for the parade, but also to ensure that the Christmas Craft Fair at the Kaua‘i Museum can operate seamlessly on the same day.
The following streets will be closed: Ho‘olako Street, from Vidinha Stadium to Rice Street, Rice Street itself up to 'Eiwa Street, and 'Eiwa Street stretching to Hardy Street. Parking restrictions will also apply at the Historic County Building and nearby state office parking lots from 4:30 p.m. to midnight.
Transit changes have also been announced, with the bus stop on ‘Eiwa Street to be temporarily relocated to Hardy Street, and all bus routes will be adjusted to service the Hardy/‘Eiwa intersection from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The Route 70 Līhu‘e Shuttle will specifically be diverted not to operate on Rice Street during parade hours, according to the county's traffic advisory.
For those planning to attend the Christmas Craft Fair, note that a part of the Līhu‘e Civic Center parking lot will close at 6 a.m. and will remain inaccessible until 10 p.m. Parade and event organizers will provide crucial updates, particularly if severe weather conditions threaten to affect the festivities on December 5. For the latest information and updates on the Lights on Rice Parade, attendees are directed to visit the event's official website at lightsonrice.org.
