Hawaii 24/7 photos by Karin Stanton and Rogan Tinsley

Hawaii 24/7 Staff

Former councilman and veteran Angel Pilago was honored as Grand Marshal in the 2013 Kona Independence Day Parade.

Pilago is a U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division veteran who earned numerous decorations in Vietnam, including the Silver Star for Heroism. He also served three terms on the Hawaii County Council, representing Kona.

He led dozens of floats, dancers, marchers, musicians, elected officials, youth and community groups along the Alii Drive route.

The festivities wrapped up with a fireworks display over Kailua Bay. Immediately following the display, a small fire was seen flaring on the barge that set off the pyrotechnics.

Authorities said the fire was minor and no injuries were reported.

Video courtesy of Jesse Tinsley

Parade Entrants 2013

1 Banner Carriers
2 Civil Air Patrol Color Guard
3 Hawaii Fire Department
4 Echo City Derby Dolls
5 Life Care Center
6 Boy Scouts – Aloha Council
7 Grand Marshal
8 Council Members Karen Eoff and Dru Kanuha
9 Council MemberMargaret Wille
10 West Hawaii County Band
11 County of Hawaii
12 Regency at Hualalai
13 Kona Shrine Club
14 Lt. Gov. Shan S. Tsutsui
15 Hawaii Army National Guard
16 National Federation of the Blind
17 Kona Community Hospital
18 GEICO
19 St. Michael’s Church Youth Group
20 Hospice of Kona
21 American Legion
22 Korean War Veterans
23 Kona Vet Center
24 Kona VA Clinic
25 Disabled American Veterans
26 BIRMA
27 West Hawaii Community Health Center
28 West Hawaii National Parks
29 Incense, a S.E.E.D. Program
30 Auto Body Hawaii
31 Medeiros
32 Military Spouses
33 Democratic Party of Hawaii County
34 Dolphin Journeys
35 Daughters of the American Revolution
36 Hawaiian Int’l Billfish Tournament
37 Kona Outlaws Roller Girls
38 Advocats Hawaii
39 Camp Tarawa Detachment #1255
40 Pohakuloa Training Area
41 Veterans of Foreign Wars
42 U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla
43 Council Member Brenda Ford
44 Zulu Dancers
45 Island Wide Solar
46 Hawaii Island HIV / AIDS Foundation
47 West Hawaii Today
48 Filipino Americans of West Hawaii
49 Jackie Rey’s Ohana Grill
50 Unitarian Universalist Church of West Hawaii
51 Kona Eco Adventures
52 KBXtreme
53 Superior Sanitation
54 Hoagus Boagus Da Clown
55 Medaman Medaman
56 Volunteer Fire Co, #7 Bravo

— Find out more:
www.paradesinkona.com