Saturday’s King Kamehameha Day Celebration Parade in Kailua Village promises all the excitement and pageantry of past parades, plus a few new surprises along the way.
The annual floral parade begins at 9 a.m. on Ali‘i Drive, near Royal Kona Resort. Parade-watchers will see everything from hula halau and horse-drawn carriages to marching bands, equestrian units and decorated floats. Showcasing the regal pa‘u princesses on horseback, the parade will travel down Ali‘i Drive, past Hulihe‘e Palace and up Palani Road to Kuakini Highway.
The Royal Court will lead the way, followed by the Royal Order of Kamehameha, the Queen Kaahumanu Society, the pa‘u queen and grand marshal, Daughters of Hawaii, Hawaiian Civic Club, Kona Choral Society, Kona Shriners’ Club and many more.
This year’s pa‘u queen is Malani DeAguiar.
A resident of Kailua-Kona, DeAguiar has taught at Hawaii Preparatory Academy, Honaunau School, Konawaena Middle School, University of Hawaii at West Hawaii and at private schools in Hilo. She holds a master’s degree in education and currently works for Kamehameha Schools as an education program manager. A longtime teacher of Hawaiian language, DeAguiar gained inspiration from her great-grand aunt, Mary Kawena Pukui, author of the definitive “Hawaiian Dictionary” published in 1957.
For more details on DeAguair and her unit, click here.
The grand marshal for the parade will be Uncle Albert Pi, a resident of Kailua-Kona. Pi was born and raised in Kealia, South Kona. He is a native Hawaiian speaker who is an expert in genealogy.
Free concert and hoolaulea
after the parade
After the parade, a hoolaulea will take place on the grounds of Hulihe‘e Palace. The Hawaiian music and art festival will feature plenty of ono grindz (delicious food), plus dozens of vendors selling their crafts, apparel and wares. A silent auction will feature a slew of great items, including golf for four at Kohanaiki.
KAPA-FM radio personality Ka‘ae Lyons will emcee the festivities, which will include hula performances by Halau Ka‘eaikahelelani, the award-winning hula halua that took top honors at the 2017 Moku O Keawe International Hula Festival.
Music performers at the hoolaulea will include the Hoku Pa‘a trio, plus singer-songwriter Ali‘i Keanaaina.
Hailing from Kalaoa, Keanaaina blends traditional and contemporary Hawaiian sounds. He began his musical career with his twin brother, Nui Keanaaina, in 2001, and came into prominence after winning the 2010 Klyde “Kindy” Falsetto and Storytelling competition.
Ali‘i’s debut album, “He Mele No,” was released in 2012, followed by his sophomore album “Music and Me” in 2015. He has collaborated with Sonny Lim, Dwight Tokumoto, Karl Kasberg and singer-songwriter Natalie Ai Kamauu.
“I’m bringing the band and some of the halau girls and guys to share a few numbers,” said Keanaaina. “We will be doing a set of classics and new songs. I’ve grown up with the parade and it’s always a celebration to enjoy. It’s exciting to be at the hoolaulea and give back to the community that I grew up loving.”
Special guests will accompany Keanaaina at the hoolaulea.
Led by singer Tani Waipa, the trio known as Hoku Pa‘a will perform a combination of original songs and covers. The group formed about six years ago and currently plays at Hilton Grand Vacations on Fridays. Their upcoming performance at Hulihe‘e Palace will preview their new steady gig at the Kings’ Shop beginning July 10.
“We feel very honored to be invited to play at the hoolaulea,” said Waipa. “I have also been a narrator for the parade for the last four years. I have so much fun doing it. This year, I will wear my narrator’s hat for the parade, and then put on my singer’s hat for the hoolaulea. We plan to invite a surprise guest on stage who is a world-renowned ukulele and guitar player.”
Recently completing its first live CD, the trio has just returned from Japan, where they performed at a keiki hula competition. Additionally, Waipa is part owner of Hilo Ukulele and Guitar, which opened on June 3 in Hilo.
Renowned slack-key artist Sonny Lim will also perform live at the hoolaulea. He will be joined on stage by musician Kevin Kealoha.
A multiple Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner, Lim performed on Hawaii’s first Grammy Award-winning CD, “Slack Key Guitar Volume 2.” He helped to accept the award with Grammy Award-winning producer Charles Michael Brotman in 2005. His first solo CD, “Slack Key Guitar: The Artistry of Sonny Lim” features traditional slack key pieces and several songs that Sonny wrote and co-wrote with Brotman.
A member of Kohala’s famous Lim family, Sonny performs regularly with his family in Hawaii and Japan.
Info: www.konaparade.org.
Writer Karen Anderson is a committee member of the King Kamehameha Day Celebration Parade.
More King Kamehameha Day events on Hawaii Island:
North Kohala to celebrate King Kamehameha Day on Sunday
Hulihe‘e Palace event remembers King Kamehameha I