1985 “Let There Be Peace, Let There Be Light” Mayor Frank F. Fasi created a free event that included a lighted tree on the main lawn, decorated tree display in the courtyard, holiday concert and displays of light on the trees and buildings from downtown to the civic center. The first 50-foot Norfolk Pine was decorated with wooden white doves and gold balls and illuminated by flood lights. The official tree lighting ceremony was held on Thursday, December 12, 1985. “Honolulu City Lights” Is Born 1987: The month-long holiday event is named “Honolulu City Lights”. The City Christmas tree was originally decorated with strings of colored lights and a traffic signal control box was used to change the colors. You could hear the box clicking from green/yellow/red but no one cared. They were happy because the big tree would change colors. 2019 Honolulu City Lights' 35th Anniversary A limited edition commemorative silver ornament was created in honor of this milestone.