MEDIA RELEASE

The Kailua-Kona Community Parade Association has announced the Grand Marshal for this year’s Independence Day parade will be Sen. Daniel K. Inouye.

Inouye served in the acclaimed all- Japanese ancestry 442nd Regimental Combat Team in World War II. He was severely wounded, and spent over a year in the hospital recovering from his wounds before returning to Hawaii. He is now Hawaii’s longest-serving member of Congress.

The Independence Day parade is 5:30 p.m. Sunday, July 4, starting at Kona’s Pool next to Kekuaokalani Gym on Kuakini Highway. It will proceed south on Kuakini Highway to Palani Road, to Alii Drive, and then south on Alii to Walua Road just past Coconut Grove Marketplace.

Applications are available now at www.konaparades.com or at the Kona side Mayor’s office across Hanama Place from Big Island Grill.
The parade will be limited to around 60 entrants, with the deadline of June 21 (or sooner if capacity is reached).

All are welcome, whether neighborhood and community groups, nonprofit groups or commercial entries. The theme is “Celebrate Freedom.” Musical entries and floats of any kind are encouraged, as are lighted entries.

There will be awards for the Best Float, Best Marching Unit, and Most Patriotic. There will be additional awards for Best Crowd Pleaser, Best Use of Theme, Best Music, and the Judges’ Special Award. There will be multiple color guards and numerous members of our armed services in the parade.

The parade operates with an all-volunteer committee with the support of the Rotary Clubs and Lions Club of Kona. Additional volunteers are welcome.

There will be a fireworks extravaganza over Kailua Bay following the parade, starting between 8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., depending on the wind and the weather. Sponsors are needed for both the parade and the fireworks.

Information about sponsoring is online at www.konaparades.com, or contact Barbara Kossow at 327-3603.