Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 6, Number 2, 1 February 1989 — Drill Unit Marches In D. C. Parade [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Drill Unit Marches In D. C. Parade

Stepping along smartly with delegations from across the nation in the 1989 Amenean Bicentennial Presidential inaugural parade in Washington, D.C., were members of the King's Guard, Hawaii's only semi-professional drill unit known for their precision rifle drill and marching techniques.

Led by Paul Naki, commander of the Guards, the 21 male members of the rifle unit braved the mild and windy winter weather January 20 to represent Hawai'i in the nationally-televised parade. Six women carried a 20-foot long banner bedecked with floral sprays, bringing a blaze of Hawaiian color to the stark capital winter. They had the honor of bemg selected by the American Bicentennial Presidential Inaugural, from among hundreds of the nation's top groups seeking to participate. This was the second visit of the King's Guard. They also marched in the 1984 inaugural parade for President Ronald Reagan.

Accompanying the King s Guard on their Washington trip were members of the King's Guard Production company, an affiliated performing ensemble. The ensemble, whieh includes members of the marching team, performed in the Senate Chambers of the Capitol, for the City of Alexandria, and in the Baptist Church of Alexandria. They specialize in music and dance capturing the days of old Hawai'i to the Monarchy period, and up through the various decades to modern times.

Naki said the group learned from their 1984 experience when blizzards and temperatures in the single digits made it the worst recorded weather for an inaugural celebration. The marchers were better prepared this trip, with special thermal underwear, face masks, gloves and shoe inserts to keep them warm during the hour or so it took to cover the approximately one and a half-mile long march route. The female banner carriers wore white jackets and blue trousers to complement the men's uniforms. To cover their costs, a fundraiser was held in January, and the group prepared their own meals

to save money. During their five-day stay, they also took time to visit Washington monuments and museums of the Smithsonian lnstitu^ion. The King's Guard was established in 1972 as a performing unit of the King's Village (formerly King's Alley), a Waikiki shopping complex fashioned after turn-of-the century Honolulu. While they are not affiliated with the present 'Iolani Palaee Royal Guards, they are modeled on the palaee guards. Every night at the front gates of King's Village, the King's Guard holds a changing of the guard ceremony in whieh they retire the

Hawaiian colors and perform a rifle drill exhibition. Over the past 16 years, thousands of visitors have watched the King's Guard display their rifle skills. The King's Guard was trained in drill etiquette by the same man who was responsible for reconstituting the 'Iolani Palaee Royal Guard in 1963, Colonel Walter Judd. The King's Guard has been "ambassadors of Aloha" for the State of Hawai'i at numerous loeal conventions and parades and has received first plaee honors at the California State Field Competition for four years. The Guard has won first plaee for best marching unit in the Aloha Week Parade every year since 1972. This award-winning unit is rated one of the finest fancy drill teams in the world.

The royal blue, gold and white uniforms wom by the King's Guard are modified reproductions of King Kalakaua's palaee militia. Their kitchener helmets and gold horsehair p!umes are imported from England. The King's Guard consists of 21 young men between the ages of 16 and 28 who were selected for their weaponry skills and talent. They utilize 11 lb. Springfield A-03 drill rifles in their routines. Membership in the King's Guard is a part-time oecupation for most, who are students or hold other employment as well. According to Naki, most members are Hawaiian.

The King s Guard, Hawaii's only semi-professional fancy drill unit, has won first piaee for best marching unit in the Aloha Week Parade every year since 1972.