Hawaiian Electric’s “Big Ben” train returns for holiday parades
by Kristen Okinaka | Nov. 20, 2024
One of my favorite things about the holidays is parades, especially light parades. Bright, sparkling lights make the night sky glow and joyful music resonates in the crisp air. Festive floats and marching bands draw cheers, oohs and aahs from spectators. Keiki sing, dance and watch for Santa to make his big appearance.
Hawaiian Electric’s iconic “Big Ben” Toys for Tots train will appear in three Hawaii Island parades after a four-year hiatus for repairs and upgrades:
· Nov. 30: 2024 Downtown Hilo Christmas Lights Parade
· Dec. 7: 64th Waimea Twilight Christmas Parade
· Dec. 14: Kailua-Kona Christmas Parade
Big Ben has appeared in parades for more than 25 years. What began as a project to raise awareness of and collect toys for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program has evolved into a crowd favorite.
Employees built Big Ben from recycled materials in 1993. The locomotive frame, engine and transmission were repurposed from a used meter-reading truck, while the coal car and caboose were built over airline baggage carts. Big Ben was modeled after the official Toys for Tots logo and named in honor of employee Ben Dart who began the project but passed away before the train was completed.
Today, Big Ben is adorned with colorful LED pixel lighting. The lighting and music were coordinated and programmed by engineer Stanward Oshiro who’s also known for the popular Punalights show at his home. Strings of RGB (Red-Green-Blue) lights are placed in a matrix, computer controlled, and synchronized to music. Moving images and text are displayed on the locomotive, much like a video screen.
On this year’s playlist is “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” “Merry Christmas,” “Carol of the Bells,” “Mistletoe,” “Underneath the Tree,” “Light of Christmas,” “Santa’s Coming for Us,” and “Ice Storm Mashup.”
Many volunteers are needed to get Big Ben ready for each parade. They include employees and their ohana who help with transporting, maintaining, decorating, operating, and marching in the parades.
Here on Hawaii Island, Big Ben raises awareness of Toys for Tots, and the employees of Hawaiian Electric HELCO T4Ts Program helps ensure less fortunate keiki can receive a toy for Christmas. The nonprofit was formed in the early 1990s and is the official Local Community Organization. Volunteers coordinate toy collections, fundraise through the Tee-Off for Tots Golf Tournament, and purchase and distribute toys through partner organizations. Last year, the program distributed 15,841 toys and supported 6,174 keiki.
Since the company’s humble beginnings when Hilo Electric Light Company was formed 130 years ago, generations of Hawaiian Electric employees have been making a difference in the communities in which we work, live and raise our keiki.
Spreading holiday cheer, keeping the lights on safely, providing exceptional customer service, volunteering time and expertise, supporting those in need, and serving with aloha are all part of our company culture. I’m proud to be part of the ohana.
Kristen Okinaka is a senior communications specialist on Hawaii Island at Hawaiian Electric.
