Businesses big and small joined marching bands, political organizations and community groups to once again form Hawaii’s version of the quintessential American Fourth of July tradition known as the Kailua Independence Day parade.
Thousands of parade-goers lined the 1.5 miles of North Kainalu Drive on Thursday as about 100 entries made their way from Palapu Street to Kailua Intermediate School.
Among those viewing the parade for the first time were Maunawili residents Glenn and Marcy Murakami, 9-year-old son Seth, and Glenn’s aunt Janey Wong.
The Murakamis’ 5-year-old daughter, Daphne, was marching with her Wee Achievers kindergarten and preschool mates, Glenn Murakami said.
"I didn’t know there were all these cultures in Kailua," he said as the dizzying assortment of floats and marchers passed by.
"I didn’t know they had all these shops!" Marcy Murakami said of the commercially sponsored entries.
One first-time participant was Tower Garden Oahu, which promotes food sustainability by growing plants vertically. Distributor Kacey Shreve said the method uses 90 percent less water and land than traditional, soil-based agriculture.
"We wanted to share health and wellness," Shreve said when asked why she decided to participate in the parade. "We want to be part of the community, meet people and share ideas."
On the other end of the business spectrum, Longs Drugs’ Kailua store participated for the first time. More than 50 employees distributed to parade-goers a truckload of beach balls, tattoos, pencils, water, chips and "a lot of aloha," said assistant store manager Kennedy Smythe.
Wayne Ching, assistant scoutmaster for Kailua-based Boy Scouts Troop 223, brought three Scouts to march in the parade.
"It’s part of achieving their citizenship merit badge, participation in community events," Ching said.
Scout Noah Ahlgren, 12, said marching in the parades allows him and his troop mates to "give back to the community and support our troops — and to celebrate the nation’s birthday."
Political and community organizations also ran the gamut of interests. Not only were various political figures and members of the major political parties on hand, but also groups ranging from the Honolulu Tea Party to the North Shore-based Defend Oahu Coalition.
"Our main message is to ‘keep the country country,’" said Defend Oahu Coalition member Tim Vandeveer. It’s fitting that the group takes part annually in the Independence Day parade because "we’re celebrating the voice we have" in government.
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays Oahu Chapter brought a string of vehicles festooned in rainbow-colored decorations.
The parade is sponsored by the Kailua Chamber of Commerce.
Fourth of July buzz shifted in the afternoon to Ala Moana Beach Park, where Ala Moana Center officials were anticipating tens of thousands to witness the island’s largest fireworks display.
For the 13th straight year, Hanalei Ferguson and his group, Na Kupuna Moku o Keawe, staged a gathering on the grounds of Iolani Palace to protest U.S. control of the Hawaiian Islands. Several dozen people attended.
"While everybody else is celebrating independence, Hawaii remains an occupied country," Ferguson said.
