The Downtown Hilo Christmas Lights Parade is back in full force for the first time in three years.
Hundreds of participants and more than 25 groups and organizations will take part in the parade on Saturday.
Presented by the East Hawaii Lions Clubs, the parade will start at 6 p.m. from Pauahi Street and circle downtown Hilo before returning on Kamehameha Avenue.
“We have over 700 folks from our community having some part in the parade,” said parade coordinator Jeff Dansdill. “The registration has closed. We are thrilled that the Hilo community will be coming together to enjoy the magic of the holiday season.”
There have been a wide variety of entries, including marching bands, beauty queens, classic cars, local businesses and community organizations, floats, horses and riders, and more, according to Dansdill.
“The East Hawaii Lions Clubs are honored to be able to bring back this tradition to Hilo, and appreciate the support we have received,” Dansdill said.
This year, the community will have the chance to vote for the best entries. Using a QR code on smart phones to access the voting application, voters can submit their choices of the best entry in assorted categories.
The QR code can be found at hilolightparade.com, and the winners will be announced on the website after the parade.
Marching bands from Hilo High, Hilo Intermediate, Keaau High and Waiakea High, as well as the Hawaii County Band, will all be participating in the parade.
Community groups participating in the parade will include Big Island Jeep Club, Friends of the Hilo Skate Park, Grandpa’s Garbage Patrol, Hawaii Classic Cruizers, Hawaii Horse Owners Association, Hilo Visayan Club, Just Serve Hilo, Leilani Estate’s Neighborhood Watch, Leos, Lions, Miss Hawaii Elementary, Miss Hawaii Collegiate, Nobu Yamauchi RBI Organization, Ohana Wa’a Laulima and Operation Christmas Child.
Participating business groups will be Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union, Kona Transportation Co., Queen SMP Beauty Clinic, USPS Airport Post Office and Waiakea Hawaiian Volcanic Water.
Other groups that will be participating are: American Red Cross, county Department of Human Resources, Hawaii Community College, Hawaii Island Community Health Center, Hawaii National Guard’s Youth Challenge Academy, Hilo Medical Center/East Hawaii Health Clinics and Hoku’s Nurse Aide Training Program.
Those interested in more information, including the parade route, can visit hilolightparade.com, or the parade’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts. To contact the committee, email hilolightparade22@gmail.com.
Pahoa
Pahoa will be celebrating Christmas with its 29th annual parade, presented by Mainstreet Pahoa Association, at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3.
Vehicles and groups will line up on Apaa Road beginning at 8 a.m., and the parade will travel down Pahoa Village Road before ending at Pahoa High and Intermediate School.
This will be the first full parade in Pahoa since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, Puna Kai hosted a drive-through parade, and in 2021, Mainstreet Pahoa partnered with Pahoa High School and gave away 1,000 chickens from Costco.
“We’re really excited to have folks come out again and enjoy the holidays together. It’s great for local businesses and kids,” said Mainstreet Pahoa President Amedeo Markoff. “We have so many participants that it’s competing to be our biggest parade.”
The parade’s theme is “Celebrate the Holidays,” and Santa Claus will be in attendance. Those interested in participating can email mainstreetpahoa@gmail.com for more information and questions.
Waimea
The Waimea Christmas Twilight Parade is back in action with a new parade route at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3.
The parade will begin at Waimea Park and travel down Lindsey Road. Participants will then turn left on Mamalahoa Highway, then right on Pukalani, and finally right on Ala Ohia Road to end at Waimea District Park.
The theme this year is “He Kalikimaka Ho‘oli Keiki,” or “A Children’s Christmas Cheer.” The parade will feature dozens of lighted trucks and floats with 15 narrator stations.
The parade will honor Mel Paio and feature Grand Marshall Ku Kahakalau. More information on the parade can be found at waimeatown.org/parade.
Keaau
The 19th annual Keaau Christmas Lighted Parade is back to a traditional format with an in-person audience and moving vehicles.
The theme this year is “Wrapped in Holiday Colors” and is set for 6 p.m. on Saturday Dec. 10.
“The Keaau community looks forward to it every year, so we’re in full force with the planning and getting all the details together,” said Keaau Christmas Parade committee member Monica Macanas. “The participation packets are out, and we already have many entries in the parade. We look forward to coming back, and we hope everybody comes out and enjoys the in-person parade.”
Those wishing to participate in the parade can email monmac@hawaii.rr.com and must sign up by Nov. 28.
The route will begin at Keaau High School on Keaau-Pahoa Road and follow the road until the end at the Keaau Village Market.
Kailua-Kona
Kailua-Kona will have its 36th annual Christmas Parade at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10.
The theme of “The Songs of Christmas Island Style” will feature several musicians and island Christmas music throughout the parade.
There will be announcing stations set at Tony Honda, King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel, YWAM Ships, Hulihee Palace, Hale Halawai and Island Lava Java.
The parade will start at the intersection of Loloku Street and Kuakini Highway. It will then turn right on Palani Road and travel on to Alii Drive. The parade will end at Walua Road at the Alii Drive intersection.
More information can be found at paradesinkona.com.
Email Kelsey Walling at kwalling@hawaiitribune-herald.com.