After two years of scaled-down and canceled July 4 events because of the coronavirus pandemic, a full-scale celebration is in the works for Monday.
The night sky will light up with fireworks displays at 8 p.m. in both Hilo and Kailua-Kona.
The “Hilo Bay Blast” fireworks exhibition will feature professional pyrotechnics set off from a barge moored in Hilo Bay.
The Hawaii County Band will present a live accompaniment to the fireworks with a performance that begins at 7 p.m. at Mooheau Park Bandstand in downtown Hilo.
The area known as “Isles,” on Waiakea Peninsula’s Lihiwai Street across from Lili‘uokalani Gardens, has been designated the kupuna viewing station.
The Department of Parks and Recreation’s Elderly Activities Division will provide shuttle service from the Kamana Senior Center, at 127 Kamana St.. The shuttle to Isles will run from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., and the return shuttle will run from 8:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Individuals 55 years and older wanting to use the shuttle service can call 961-8710 for more information.
July 4 road closures in Hilo to accommodate the fireworks display include:
• Lihiwai Street, from Keliipio Lane to the entrance of Isles’ parking lot, will be closed from 2 a.m. Monday through 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 5;
• Bayfront Highway, from Waianuenue Avenue to Pauahi Street, will be closed from 6 p.m. through 10 p.m. Monday. In addition, all gates along Mooheau Park and the Hilo Bayfront Soccer fields will be open to allow pedestrian access to the Hilo Bay shoreline to view the fireworks.
All Hilo area parks will remain open until 9 p.m. on Monday only.
There also will be daytime July Fourth events in Hilo on Monday.
Beginning at 7 a.m., “A Salute to Our Veterans” Hilo Bay 5K Run/Walk 2022 will take place at Lili‘uokalani Gardens. For more information or to register, visit ASaluteToOurVeterans.org, or contact Mike or Pat Sauer at 936-7611 or runcoordinator@vfw3830aux.org.
From 10 a.m. through 3 p.m., the “Hot Rides Expo,” featuring vintage, classic and futuristic vehicles, will be held at the Hilo soccer fields mauka of Kamehameha Avenue.
All show vehicles are welcomed to participate at no charge, and may roll in starting at 7:30 a.m. at the former gas station on the corner of Kamehameha Avenue and Pauahi Street. Show vehicles are encouraged to stay until 3 p.m.
There’ll be live music during the car show, featuring The Ing Crowd, Just Us, Ol’ School Band, Kachi Kachi Hawaii and Hot Potaytahs. Food trucks and children’s activities, including water slides and bounce houses, also will be available at the Hilo Bayfront soccer fields.
In Kailua-Kona, “A Salute to Our Hometown Heroes” fireworks exhibition will feature professional pyrotechnics set off from a barge moored in Kailua Bay.
The Kona fireworks show follows the the Kailua-Kona Independence Day Parade, which starts at 6 p.m.
The parade will begin at Kekuaokalani Gymnasium and travel along Kuakini Highway to Alii Drive and through Kailua Village to Walua Road.
To accommodate the parade, handful of road closures will be in effect starting at 5:45 p.m. and continuing until 8:15 p.m.
• Kuakini Highway will be closed from Kekuaokalani Gymnasium to Palani Road. Its intersections with Loloku and Kaiwi streets will be closed.
• Palani Road will be closed from Kuakini Highway to Alii Drive.
• Alii Drive will be closed between Palani to Walua roads. Alii Drive’s intersections with Kahikina Lane, and Sarona and Hualalai roads will be closed.
• Kaiwi Street will be closed at its intersection with Kuakini Highway.
The county has issued the following reminders regarding July Fourth:
• Personal fireworks, alcohol and tobacco use, and e-cigs are prohibited at all county and state parks.
• Operation of drone aircraft within five miles of the Hilo and Kona airports, as well as within county and state parks, is prohibited.
• All marine vessels (including kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddle boards) operating at night must utilize navigation lights, and all persons on board must have personal flotation devices.
According to Fire Chief Kazuo Todd, personal fireworks permits are on sale now through 8 p.m. Monday. Permits and firecrackers may be purchased only at the TNT tent, 381 E. Makaala St. in Hilo.
Each permit costs $25 and will allow the holder to purchase up to 5,000 individual firecrackers. Permits will be issued to persons 18 years of age or older and are non-transferable and non-refundable.
Permits are not required for novelties and paperless firecrackers.
Firecrackers, and approved consumer fireworks are allowed to be set off only during the hours of 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday.
The purchase, sale or possession of aerial luminary device such as Sky Lanterns and Hawaii Lanterns is unlawful. Anyone possessing these devices who wants to dispose of them with amnesty can call the Fire Department at 932-2911.
West Hawaii Today reporter Megan Hadley contributed to this story.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
