Big Independence Day Celebration Saturday in Naalehu

‘O Ka‘u Kakou Inc. (OKK) and the Ka‘u community invite everyone to “come on down and join the fun on Saturday,” as volunteers stage an early Independence Day Celebration complete with a colorful, patriotic parade.

Start the day with a free pancake breakfast from 8:30-10 a.m. at the Naalehu Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Then, join the community at 11 a.m. as local businesses, organizations and elected officials show their patriotism in the annual Independence Day Parade. The parade route begins at the Naalehu Elementary School and ends at the Naalehu Hongwanji Mission.

Starting at noon, there will be lots of free games and onolicious food for the whole family. At Naalehu Park, enjoy shaved ice, hot dogs, a climbing rock wall, water slides and bounce houses for the keiki until 3 p.m.

Entertainment will also be provided by Keoki Kahumoku with the Ukulele Kids, Back to The ’50s, Hands of Time and Hui Okinawa Kobudo Taiko. Simultaneously, Bingo and lunch will be hosted at the Naalehu Hongwanji Mission for adults until 4 p.m. For more information, visit http://okaukakou.org or call Debra at 929-9872.

Lee McIntosh, a member of the board of directors, is chairing the OKK Parade Committee.

The community group is led by president Wayne Kawachi, vice president Walter Wong Yuen, secretary Nadine Ebert and treasurer June Domondon. Additional directors include Douglas Castro, Carol Massey, Fred Ramsdell, Myrajean Sumida, Katherine Okamura and Jeanette Howard, the organization’s kupuna adviser.

The nonprofit’s mission is “to support and promote a healthy community through educational, cultural and economic development opportunities that improve the quality of life in rural Ka‘u.” It was organized in August of 2006 exclusively for charitable, educational, cultural and economical purposes.