The streets of downtown Keaau were filled with smiles and warm hearts as the holiday season was celebrated at the 9th annual Keaau Community Christmas Lighted Parade held on Saturday. This year’s theme was “Hawaiian Disney Christmas.”
The streets were brought to life as with the many floats and marchers.
The parade was honored to have as this year’s Grand Marshall the newly elected prosecutor, Mitch Roth. The judges — Alice Sledge, Gil Silva, Carl Okuyama, Kathy Weller and Joshua Acia — scored the entries on originality, attractiveness, and most-spirited.
Once again DJ, JE Orozco, from K-BIG FM brought his jovial attitude as the parade’s MC.
The parade is put together by a group of community volunteers and with contributions from local businesses and this years’ parade was a tribute to one of the founders, Arline Macanas. Without her inspiration and leadership the parade would not be what it is today.
The parade category winners were:
l Best Decorated Small Float — 1st Place: Keaau Post Office,
2nd Place: Head Start Program,
l Best Decorated Medium Floats — 1st Place: Paradise Park Baptist Church,
2nd Place: Hawaii Family Health Center,
l Best Decorated Large Floats — 1st Place: HFS Federal Credit Union (overall best score),
2nd Place: Hawaii Horse Owners Inc.,
l Marching Bands — 1st Place: Waiakea Intermediate School Ukulele Band,
2nd Place: Keaau Middle & High School Bands,
l Marching Units — 1st Place: Keaau High School Cougar Cheerleaders,
2nd Place: Keala Kahiki Hula & Tahitian Dance Club,
l Big Rig — 1st Place: DC Towing,
2nd Place: Pepsi Beverage Co.
