Kailua-Kona Fourth of July Parade canceled

Kailua-Kona will not be celebrating the Fourth of July with a parade this year.

The Kailua-Kona Community Parade Association decided to cancel the 25th annual Kailua-Kona Fourth of July Parade, which draws scores of residents and visitors to Kailua Village, because of concerns over such a large gathering amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The fate of the annual Fireworks Extravaganza has not yet been decided, according to Chairwoman Barbara Kossow.

Funding for the display over Kailua Bay is partially subsidized through fees assessed on fireworks permits. Kossow said she was notified by Hawaii County Managing Director Roy Takemoto that there were no funds available this year.

That leaves private donations as the only means that the show will go on.

The 10-minute show, put on by Hawaii Explosives and Pyrotechnics, costs $36,000.

“If the money can be raised, then we can do the fireworks,” said Kossow.