On Saturday morning, challenges to The King’s Parade and Ho‘olaule‘a poked through the 108th annual celebration that was held on Rice Street from the Vidinha Stadium parking lot to the historic County Building.
The challenges included the bouts of rain that soaked the fabric outfits and costuming of the pa‘u riders and their respective teams, as well as a competing event across town.
At the same time, the Kauai Indivisible “No Kings” rally drew about 1,000 people to the sidewalks fronting the Kauai Community College in Puhi.
Organizers said the “No Kings” rallies were supposed to happen all at the same time across the nation, on the day of President Trump’s birthday and the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. Protesters at Kauai’s rally supported a wide range of topics with a theme of “fighting for democracy.”
Kamehameha Day, formed by political action by Kamehameha V in 1971, celebrates the legacy of his grandfather, Kamehameha I, and the formation of the unified Kingdom of Hawaii that included all eight of the Hawaiian Islands.
Kamehameha’s rule brought stability, established a central government, and encouraged the growth of foreign trad while maintaining a commitment to preserve Hawaiian traditions and cultural identity despite growing outside influences.
This has evolved to a celebration of pa‘u riders, each adorned by their representative island’s color and flower.
The riders are joined by floats sponsored by the major significant Hawaiian groups and societies, and the community.
On Saturday, hundreds of people braved the rain to line Rice Street for this year’s celebration presented by the King Kamehameha Commission whose Kauai commissioner took up a spot with Melissia Sugar, this year’s King’s Parade and Hoolaulea chairperson, near the Kamehameha Court to view the hookupu presentation by each of the parade participating units.
Ku i ka mana is the theme of this year’s floral parade that translates to “to be like the one from whom you have learned.”
Kauai Council member and former mayor Bernard Carvalho served as the parade’s Grand Marshall, pulling the Kauai Portuguese Society into the mix along with the Miss Hawaii Filipina, Jaslen Valdez, the Miss Kauai Filipina, Aleah Yano, and the hopefuls for the 2025 Miss Kauai Filipina crown as well as the Kauai Filipino Community Council.
“As we celebrate the life of a leader who inspired generations, today’s gathering reminds us of the values passed down through our kupuna — values of strength, wisdom, and leadership that continue to guide us, today,” said a message from Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami that was relayed through the battery of emcees spaced along the parade route.
Source: The Garden Island
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