Holiday parades mark the month of December in East Hawaii.
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PAHOA
The 30th annual Pahoa Holiday Parade is next in line at 9:30 a.m. Saturday on Pahoa Village Road.
The parade will close Pahoa Village Road between Apaa Road and Pahoa High and Intermediate School from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The year’s theme is ‘Peace and Joy,’ and cash prizes will be given for best in theme, originality and spirit.
“As always, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be making an appearance, and we have a bunch of school groups, community organizations and, of course, dogs and horses participating this year,” said Amedeo Markoff, president of Mainstreet Pahoa. “Community activist Jon Olson is the grand marshal, and the Royal Order of Kamehameha I will be leading like they have for a long time now.”
The Pahoa Ho‘olaulea also will be ongoing during and after the parade from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Pahoa High and Intermediate School. Admission is free, and there will be food, crafts, games, music, pictures with Santa and holiday shopping available throughout the day.
“The parade is unique, being in the morning, but it’s well-attended every year we’ve put it on normally,” Markoff said. “We have such a diverse community, and this parade really accentuates the eclectic nature of Pahoa.”
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WAIMEA
The 63rd annual Waimea Twilight Christmas Parade also will be held from from 5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. this Saturday
The parade will be repeating last year’s longer, safer 1.7-mile route and adding more narrator stations, portable restrooms and two food zones for the parade that reflects the “Best of Waimea.”
More than 60 lighted entries will be participating in the parade with the theme of “E Lauhoe Mai Na Wa‘a,” which means “Everybody Paddle the Canoe Together.”
Festively dressed trucks and other rigs will stage in Waimea Park and will then turn onto Lindsey Road to the main intersection, turn left on Mamalahoa Highway to pass through the town center, then right onto Pukalani Road, then right onto Ala ‘Ohia Road and end at the Kalani Schutte Waimea District Park.
After riding in the parade, Santa Claus will be visiting with keiki until 9 p.m. at the Parker Ranch Center’s Fireside food court. Lighted float will also remain at Waimea District Park for post-parade viewing.
Before the parade, the Hawaii County Band will present a half-hour concert at the Parker Ranch Center beginning at 4:30 p.m., and then will get on the float created for them by the Parker Ranch ‘ohana to lead off the parade.
The Waimea Boy Scouts will be carrying the American and Hawaiian flags and other colors, which is when spectators are urged to stand for the passing of the colors.
Nearly a dozen food trucks will be open in two “food zones,” in front of Pukalani Stables and in the gravel student dropoff area immediately south of Waimea Middle School’s STEAM Learning Center.
Canada France Hawaii Telescope will host its annual Star Party with star-gazing and viewing at its Waimea headquarters after the parade.
A large hui of more than 1,000 volunteers stage Waimea’s Christmas Parade, working in partnership with the North Hawaii Rotary, the state Department of Transportation and Hawaii County, according to the parade committee.
“This event would not be possible without our volunteers, our community’s rotarians and public partners that make it so special,” said Waimea Community Association President James Hustace. “We hope to continue to make this event more dynamic each year.”
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KEAAU
The 20th annual Keaau Lighted Christmas Parade will begin at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9, with the theme of “20 Years of Lights.”
“Since this is our 20th anniversary, our grand marshals will be some of the founders of the parade,” said organizer Lily Chan-Harris. “We also made sure to specifically invite people who have been a part of the parade since its inception. We’re really excited to see what’s in store this year.”
The grand marshals are Jiro Sumada, Carl Okuyama, Bill Walter, Adella Walter and Tom English.
Groups, organizations and businesses can still apply to participate. Entry is free, and prizes will be awarded for the best floats by a panel of judges.
The judges include Stacey Bello, the Ka‘u-Keaau-Pahoa Complex Area Superintendent; Beckie Marshall, the East Hawaii program director for Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii; Bruce Meyers, a master magician and magic instructor; Ethel Mann, a retired teacher and visual artist; and Ray Todd, a retired painting contractor, builder, chef and sports enthusiast.
The parade will begin at Keaau High School, and will run through old Keaau-Pahoa Road before ending at the Keaau Village Market. The judges will be set up toward the end of the parade route, on the hillside next to the Department of Education complex buildings.
Access to the portion of the Keaau-Pahoa Road will be closed at 5:30 p.m. until the end of the parade.
Those interested in participating or learning more about the parade can contact parade organizer Monica Macanas at monmac@hawaii.rr.com.
Editor’s note: The Pahala Town Lighted Christmas Parade will be featured Sunday in a separate story.
Email Kelsey Walling at kwalling@hawaiitribune-herald.com.