Veterans Day is Saturday, Nov. 11, and a number of ceremonies will take place throughout Hawaii.
Instead of competing with those special events, the Hawaii Island Veterans Day Parade will honor all veterans and celebrate the many organizations and people serving the community at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4 — rain or shine — at Wailoa State Recreation Area on Piopio Street and march through downtown Hilo.
“Our parade is about honoring our veterans, welcoming and celebrating service in many forms, and inspiring our youth and future generations to discover better and better ways to serve others,” said Deb Lewis, a retired U.S. Army colonel and the parade chairwoman.
Lewis described her many parade volunteers and sponsors as a great example of a “dream team” to work with.
Grand marshal is a duo from the Hawaii County Parks and Recreation Department: Director Maurice Messina, who served in the Navy, and Deputy Director Michelle Hiraishi, who served in the Army.
The community parade marshal this year is Hawaii Rotary District 5000, and the business parade marshal is Big Island Toyota.
Each of these parade marshals positively impact lives every day.
“Veterans are willing to risk their lives to keep us and our country safe. On our island, we are doubly blessed that so many people in our community strive daily to raise up the circumstances of others,” said Lewis. “Few people realize the hardships and hostility servant leaders frequently face. Our parade celebrates them and recognizes their courage and talent.”
Because of ongoing Keawe Street construction, the parade has a new route this year. Check out the latest parade details, including a route map, on the parade website www.hivetparade.org.
Six announcers will share how each parade unit serves our island community. They are located on every turn of the new parade route, and next to the Hilo Farmers Market and near the flag along Kamehameha Avenue.
The 2023 parade route begins on Piopio Street, heading makai on Pauahi Street with a left turn onto Kamehameha Avenue, then continues on until turning left onto Waianuenue Avenue, then a left on Kinoole Street at Kalakaua Park, heading to Ponahawai Street, then turning left at Lincoln Park before a final right turn onto Kamehameha Avenue, returning to the starting point.
On parade day, large floats will park mauka along Kamehameha Avenue starting at 8:30 a.m. this Saturday near Bishop Street. All participants are to be dropped off or walk to Bishop Street to register and be assembled by 9 a.m.
All roads along the parade route will be closed after 9:45 a.m.
Disabled and mobility-challenged veterans and their families are invited to park at the Bayfront Soccer Field parking lot along Kamehameha Avenue and join the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home residents under the 120 feet of veteran/VIP viewing tents next to the large Hawaiian Electric trucks holding up the American flag across the roadway.
On parade day, participants can park along Aupuni Street, the State Building parking lot, mauka of Piopio Street along Pauahi Street and Hilo Bay lots makai of Kamehameha Avenue.
As always, there will be music amid the military units, local dignitaries, community and business floats, aircraft and convertibles. Bands include the Hawaii County Band celebrating its 140th year of serving our island, the Hilo High School Viking Band, Waiakea High School Warrior Band and more.
For those who prefer the heavy-metal roar of two-wheelers, Vietnam War veteran Jerry Chang is leading a group of motorcyclists Lewis calls Aloha Thunder to herald the start of the parade along the route, while handing out flags to kids and saluting our veterans.