King Kamehameha Day Celebration Parade puts traditions on display

KAILUA-KONA — Saturday’s King Kamehameha Day Celebration Parade put bright colors, local flowers and Kona’s aloha spirit on display for all to see.

But for riders in the parade’s pa‘u units and spectators alike, it also did something bigger: perpetuate local traditions, culture and heritage.

“This really shows, I think, the true Hawaiian lifestyle, the things that are important to Hawaii,” said Laurel Whillock of Kona.

Standing along the parade route, Whillock watched as the riding units made their way down Alii Drive, featuring women wrapped in colorful, flowing pa‘u with lei made from local plants and flowers.

“The pa‘u riders are just really special to see,” Whillock said as the grand marshal unit went past. “It’s something that is so indigenous and unique to Hawaii.”

Early in the morning, trucks and trailers lined both sides of Walua Road as riders prepared to get this year’s parade underway.

Riders ran the gamut in terms of experience in participating in the annual event. While some had been coming out to participate for years, others said this was their first time taking part in a pa‘u unit.

Among them was Keola Stevens, a 19-year-old Waimea resident riding in the Pa‘u Queen Malani DeAguiar’s unit.

Stevens, whose auntie is DeAguiar, said she’s excited to take part in her first King Kamehameha Day Celebration Parade.

“Just been excited just leading up to it,” Stevens said.

She said she’s been busy working on the bundles for the horses and sewing lei, an activity that took both time and effort.

“It’s nice to see the end results,” she said.

Other parade participants looked to Kona’s history when preparing for the parade.

Kimi Nagatoshi, who was part of the grand marshal unit, was among those wearing more traditional pa‘u.

“All the islands have princesses and they’re kind of taking on the more modern take of pa‘u,” she said. “So we wanted to show what the traditional, original pa‘us were.”

She was joined by Christine Hall, Jenna Goldsmith and Leah Mandrel, all of whom ranged in their experience with the celebration.

This was Nagatoshi’s 20th year participating in the parade. Hall was taking part for the first time. Regardless of their range of experience though, they all agreed on the importance of keeping the traditions alive.

“It’s important for our kids,” said Goldsmith. “They’re going to carry it on to the next generation. We’ve gotta be good role models for them, teach them how to make lei, how to do the pa‘u wraps. Because one day they’re gonna be wrapping their kids.”

“And did we not have a lot of fun making all this lei?” Nagatoshi added. “It was getting together, laughing.”

Back on the parade route, residents and visitors to the island were taking in the celebration.

Rebecca Tereise, 46 of Kona, said it was her first time coming out to the parade, adding she came out to bring her puppy, Emily, down to see the festivities.

“She loves horses and all the pa‘u riders, so this is like up close and personal,” Tereise said. “It’s so cool. You can tell she gets so excited; she just loves it!”

Between the riders, flowers, lei and all the time it must have taken to prepare for the event, she said, it makes her “super proud” to be Hawaiian.

“‘Cause we have to share this,” she said.

She noted that attending the parade gave her an opportunity to meet and talk with a tourist and educate them on the day’s significance to the community.

“I mean we’re sharing, right?” she said, “Our history, our aloha. You know, just how we do things, what we represent here.”

“And, y’know, a lot of locals came down, which is cool.” she added. “So we’re all hanging out together; it’s not really just a tourist thing.”