Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 8, Number 7, 1 July 1991 — Parading Hawaiian pride and spirit of aloha [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Parading Hawaiian pride and spirit of aloha

By Christina Zarobe Members of the Halau Hula O Maiki watched the sun rise as they put the finishing flowers on their float for the 75th Annual King Kamehameha Celebration Floral Parade last month. "We saw the morning in, enjoying every minute," said Ulu Mendiola who sat serenely in the back of the group's float designed to represent the island of Ni'ihau. The hula school has taken part in the festivities for about seven years. Several days before the parade they began collecting material — pili grass and sugar eane — for the project. "We always have a lot of fun preparing our floats. They (participants) have a love for it all," Mendio!a said as she slowly drew a straw fan back and forth in the already hot morning sun. Kamehameha V declared June 11 as Kamehameha Day in honor of his grandfather Kamehameha the Great, the first ruler of the united Hawaiian Islands. Centuries later, however, the parade is a family celebration for the people and, unlike similar events, has not mushroomed into a grandiose production. Greetings and jokes were often called out between parade participants, the crowds

lining the streets and officials on the bandstand in a warm exchange. "Imi na'auao," whieh means "to seek knowledge or education," was this year's parade theme. Although this was Miehael Villarin's first year representing his home island of Moloka'i as a pa'u rider, he is hardly a novice with horses. The seventh grader began riding when he was seven years old and kept a tight rein on his horse as the pair waited on the grounds of 'Iolahi Palaee for their turn to travel the parade route. Summarizing his thoughts on the parade, Villarin said simply, "It's very good." Positioned in a eanoe atop the Honolulu Lodge 616 Elks float, Eben Kalaau, Stephen Kaowili and Jim Fitzgerald enjoyed the camaraderie of the day. "We look forward to making the float and just being together," said Fitzgerald. In honor of his country and the historic Hawaiian ruler, one Navy man celebrated the occasion by re-enlisting before the parade in front of the King Kamehameha statue decorated with long leis. Although the parade is very mueh a family affair, it still often requires several months of planning.

Piilani Pili, who represented the island of O'ahu as a pa'u rider, began preparing back in March, with the week before the parade spent making horse leis. "I love it. It's exciting to represent your island. And it's our king and the princess, of course. It's an honor." Among the parade winners are the following: Most outstanding unit in the parade: Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate float. Floral floats, non-commercial: Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate, first; Royal Order of Kamehameha, second; Ahahui Kaahumanu, third. Floral floats, commercial: Halau Hula 'O Maiki, first; GTE Hawaiian Tel, second. Most outstanding float entry: Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate. Private mounted units: The Queen's Own, first; Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate, second. Pa'u unit category: Kauai, first; Kaho'olawe, second; Ni'ihau, third. Outstanding pa'u princess: Kauai, Shirley Kawehiwehionalani Brenner, first; Kaho'olawe, Dee Balfour, second; O'ahu, Tracy Keliihoomalu, third.

i WL ... 2 J-1 lUOWMn «: aBB9 f 1 King Kamehameha statue adorned with leis.

Top prize winner Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate float.

First-place floral float Halau Hula 'O Maiki.

Moloka'i pa'u rider Miehael Villarin saddles up.