WAIMEA — PWO Navigator Milton “Shorty” Bertelmann has been selected as grand marshal of the 56th Annual Waimea Christmas Parade on Dec. 3. His decades of work to master and help perpetuate the celestial navigation skills of ancient Polynesian voyagers coincides with this year’s theme, “Starlight Christmas,” honoring the community’s celestial navigation past, present and future.
At the commencement of the parade at 5:30 p.m., a large group of students from almost all Waimea schools will march together sharing the chant, “Malana Mai Ka’u,” written by Queen Emma, that likens the Big Island to a canoe. Spectators who know the chant are invited to join in.
For the first time, churches participating in the parade will walk together, an idea that Pastor Sione from New Hope Church Hawi came up with earlier this year.
“As Christians, our battles are not always physical but spiritual, so we can stand together and fight against the adversaries,” he said. “So far, those that will walk together are Mana Christian Ohana, Imiola, Door of Faith, New Beginning and New Hope.”
The church group will also do a special dance in the parade known as ha’a.
“This ha’a we are going to do is not the same as the haka that you see at rugby games and other sports event,” Pastor Sione said. “Haka is a war dance to intimidate the opponents but this ha’a is we as different denominations coming together our fight not against each other, but against the principalities. It comes from the Bible verse in Ephesians 6:12 that says, ‘For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.’ We are standing together in a spiritual warfare against the one who robbed our families and our communities of the joy of life.”
Waimea’s Christmas Parade also supports Big Island Giving Tree’s outreach programs to be sure the community’s children, kupuna and others facing difficult times are remembered during the holidays. Just before the start of the parade, a Big Island Giving Tree Bucket Brigade Blue Crew will canvas spectators for donations. Suggested contributions include cash, a check payable to The Big Island Giving Tree, or a gift card from KTA, Foodland, Longs, Costco, Walmart or local gas stations. BIGT, an all-volunteer organization, now serves the Big Island year-round.
Hawaii’s second oldest Christmas parade will include dozens of units including churches, schools, youth groups, community organizations, farms, ranches and businesses, plus a large brigade of festively lighted trucks. As always, Santa has promised to ride in the parade and afterward visit with keiki at Parker Ranch Center’s Fireside Food Court.
The main road will be closed from 5:30-6:45 p.m. while the parade goes through town. It begins at the east end of historic Church Row Park, onto Mamalahoa Highway through town center, right onto Lindsey Road at the main intersection passing Parker School and disbanding in Waimea Park.
There will be 10 narrator stations throughout the parade. Keiki must stay on the curb and no candy throwing is allowed. Parking is not permitted on landscaped areas at the hospital or shopping centers. Tents are not allowed on private property, except for permitted food booths.
This year’s parade sponsors and partners are Waimea Community Association, Waimea Center, Puna Plantation Hawaii, Ltd., KTA SuperStores, Rotary Club of North Hawaii, Rotary International, Redeeming Light International, Inc., dba The Big Island Giving Tree, Parker Ranch Center, Waimea’s beloved truckers, Around The Clock, North Hawaii Community Hospital, Big Island Portables, Waimea Middle School, Parker School, BOH as Trustee of the Richard Smart Article 20 Trust, Mana Christian Ohana, New Hope Christian Fellowship, Ace Hardware, W.M. Keck Observatory, Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, Costco-Kona, Waimea Instant Printing, S&R Trucking, Lex Brodie, the County of Hawaii Department of Parks &Recreation and South Kohala Community Policing.
Following the parade, Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope will host a Winter Stargazing Party from 7-9:30 p.m. at their Waimea headquarters with astronomers and members of the West Hawaii Astronomy Club leading an open house and “Ask An Astronomer” talks. The event is free and open to the public. Hot cocoa and cookies will be provided.
Parade info, application and rules: Call Parade Co-Chairs Lani Olsen-Chong at 936-0670, Kalae Kawamura at 936-4376 or go to www.WaimeaTown.org