Photos and video by Baron Sekiya / Hawaii247.com

The Big Island's John Keawe entertains on slack-key guitar for the crowd Saturday evening in front of historic Kona Hotel during the Holualoa Music & Light Festival.

Entertainment fronting Holualoa Public Library in Holualoa.

Slack key guitar artist and Kohala resident John Keawe plays Ku‘u Home O Kahaluu by Jerry Santos of Olomana at the Holualoa Village Music & Light Festival.

KARIN STANTON/Hawaii247.com Contributing Editor

HOLUALOA — Christmas arrived Saturday evening in Holualoa, with the flip of a switch and whole lot of music.

Holualoa Village’s 12th annual Music & Light Festival sparkled along the roadside as galleries and shops celebrated the season.

The tree and village lights were flipped on at 6 p.m. and a host of musical acts entertained along the street until 8:30 p.m. Headlining acts included John Keawe, Hibiscus Jam, Manuel and Bernice Roberto, Kona Celtic Connection, and Olga and Greg Shirley.

“Holualoa is off the beaten path and events like these bring some attention to our artists and coffee farmers,” said Mary Lovein of Holualoa Gallery. “It’s something we come together to do as a community.”

Lovein said she enjoys greeting visitors in the gallery and meeting the people who strolling along the street.

“This event can bring 1,000 people through the gallery,” she said. “We usually don’t see traffic like this on other days.”

Next door to Holualoa Gallery, Santa heard Christmas wishes. His visitors included 2-week-old twins and an 80-year-old grandmother.

“One little boy said he wanted Navy Seal night goggles because they would be cool and he’d be the only kid on the block with night goggles,” Santa said. “And one little girl said her mom has been stationed in Iraq for the last 11 months and she’d like for her mom could come home for Christmas. I told her I’d put in the request.

“Oh, and one guy tried to tip me,” Santa said.

Santa said he knows most Big Island children are well behaved, but he said it’s not too late to get Santa’s “Nice List.”

“Mind your parents, pick up your room, be helpful, and be nice to your friends, brothers and sisters, and pets,” Santa said.

Jes Foster, of Kona, soaked up the atmosphere with his wife, Kris, and 1-year-old son, Jake.

“It’s something great to have around the holidays,” he said. “It’s good for the economy right now. We could use more events like this. The food selection is nice and the music is great.”

Foster said he had one recommendation for festival organizers: “Next year we should have a snow-making machine.”

Living Hope church had some of the biggest draws – a bouncy castle, art table, popcorn and hot dogs.

“This is probably our favorite place to come around Christmas,” said Kawena Greig, who attended the festival with his wife and two daughters.

Greig said he attended Holualoa School and has seen some changes, but still appreciates the family atmosphere.

His daughter, Erica, 5, said she spent most of time at the art table.

“I liked doing that. I made a card. I’m going to send it to grandma,” she said. “And I want a big surprise from Santa. I’ve been good.”

Lounging along the guardrails, a group of teenagers discussed their Christmas wish lists.

West Hawaii Explorations Academy student and avid golfer, Stephen Siefke, 16, said tops on his list is a golf cart.

Nate Runion, 17, is hoping for a Play Station 3, while his sister has her sights set on a white Dodge Viper.

The evening was hosted by Holualoa Inn, Kona Blue Sky Coffee and the Holualoa Village Association.

— Find out more:

Holualoa Village Association: www.holualoahawaii.com