2/5 Ken K. 3 months ago on Google • 88 reviews New
Tonight,
December
10th,
2023,
I
decided
once
again
to
carefully
observe
the
extent
to
which
the
City
and
County
embraced
the
real
historical
roots
of
Christmas
through
the
ages.
Christian
music,
the
cresh,
Saint
Nicolas,
and
Christmas
trees
ALL
have
absolutely,
iconic
historic
traditions.
There
was
no
discernable
music
tonight.
The
enduring,
significant
language
of
Christmas
music
was
absent.
Recognition
of
the
deep
Christian
symbols
such
as
the
cresh
was
absent
in
the
main
hall.
Then,
almost
by
accident
set
way
back
from
the
road
on
the
Mauka
/
Diamond
Head
side
of
the
Honolulu
City
Hall
back
lawn
shown
out
the
blue
words
"Believe."
I
was
stunned
and
overjoyed.
I
totally
missed
this
set
of
Christian
displays
placed
away
back
in
the
distance
away
from
public
view.
I
had
missed
these
wonderful
exhibits
during
the
day.
Now,
that
it
was
night
their
colorful
Christian
themes
shone
out.
Personally,
I
was
overjoyed.
Yes.
Thank
YOU
for
allowing
these
meaningful
displays.
And,
yet
at
the
same
time,
I
was
deeply
saddened.
Here
the
main,
central
historical
reason
for
why
we
celebrate
symbolically
and
literally
celebrate
Christmas
was
pushed
aside,
commercialized,
and
literally
took
a
secondary
back
seat.
Therefore,
my
very
disappointed,
two
star
evaluation.
Please
don't
get
me
wrong.
The
colorful
"Christmas"
displays
and
flowers
in
the
main
hallway
were
stunning.
But,
the
displays
in
this
large
open
room
lacked
historical
meaning.
So,
I
sat
down
on
a
bench,
closed
my
eyes,
in
order
to
imagine
cresh,
high
and
lifted
up
above
the
adornments
below.
The
large
center
stage
imaginary
cresh
was
of
elegant
Koa
Wood.
And,
this
still
fresh
with
the
Christ
child
morphed
into
one
of
Saint
Francis
of
Assisi
live
animal
replacement.
And,
both
crashes
were
surrended
with
angelic
and
human
voices
singing
"Silent
Night,
Holy
Night,"
"It
Came
Upon
A
Midnight
Clear,"
and
other
favorite
Christmas
hymns.
I
had
to
imagine
it.
But,
for
me,
it
took
center
stage
and
made
all
the
difference
in
the
world.
Tonight,
in
my
mind,
I
carefully,
reverently
turned
a
commercial,
secular,
glitzy
presetation,
into
a
truly
classical
Christan
celebration.
By
deliberately
fine-tune
my
mind,
heart
and
soul,
(and
this
special
Christmas
message
to
you,
my
reader),
I
enjoyed
a
truly
wonderful,
joy-filled
gathering
to
honor
the
Christ
child
tonight.
The
reason(s)
for
my
"two
star
rating"
follows.
Perhaps,
in
the
future,
Honolulu
City
Hall
will
simililarly
reverently
honor,
but
clearly
identifying,
and
faithfully
showcase
the
true,
historical
central
tenants
of
this
all-important
highly
extolled
Christian
event.