FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                            December 4, 2006  

Release No. M-129-06

UH FOOTBALL PLAYERS WILL JOIN MAYOR HANNEMANN

IN KICKING OFF KAPOLEI CITY LIGHTS

            At least 10 members of the University of Hawaii Warrior football team will join Mayor Mufi Hannemann Saturday night (December 9, 2006) in the West Oahu Electric Light Parade and the tree-lighting ceremony that begins Kapolei City Lights.

            Warriors scheduled to attend include running back Nate Ilaoa, receivers Davone Bess, Ross Dickerson, Ryan Grice-Mullen and Jason Rivers; defensive linemen Ikaika Alama-Francis and Melila Purcell; linebacker Solomon Elimimian; safety Leonard Peters, and quarterback Inoki Funaki.

            This is the second year the City is offering Kapolei City Lights, a holiday festival and exhibit at Kapolei Hale, 1000 Uluohia Street in Kapolei.

            “Last Saturday we launched the 22^nd annual Honolulu City Lights downtown,” said Hannemann. “As successful as that event is, I believe the folks on Oahu’s West Side should have  something similar. Our first Kapolei City Lights was a big success last year, and we’re improving it this year, under the leadership of Joan Manke.”

            Saturday’s Kapolei events begin with the West Oahu Electric Light Parade, which leaves the Kapolei Fairgrounds on Kealanani Street at 6 p.m. The parade, which proceeds west on Farrington Highway and Kamokila Boulevard to Uluohia Street,  features community groups and City vehicles dressed up with Christmas lights and decorations.

            At 7:30 p.m., the mayor and the UH scholar-athletes will turn on the lights on the 40-foot Christmas tree at Kapolei Hale. Following that, the festivities move into the Kapolei Hale courtyard. The program there includes a performance by Pali and other local entertainers.

            As with its downtown counterpart, the holiday lights and decorated trees will be on public display through January 1.

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Contact:

            Bill Brennan, 527-6928

            Mark Matsunaga, 527-5767