This coming Saturday on June 11, a floral parade honoring Hawaii’s first monarch will take place on Ali‘i Drive in Kailua-Kona beginning at 9 a.m. With more than 100 riders on horseback, the parade will showcase pa‘u equestrian units, marching bands, private mounted units, hula halau, floats, a horse-drawn carriage and more.
Beginning at the Royal Kona Resort near Walua Road, the parade will journey through Kailua Village past Hulihe‘e Palace and Kailua Pier and King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel, then up Palani Road to Kuakini Highway. After the parade, a free concert and ho‘olaule‘a (cultural festival) will continue the day’s festivities at the Swing Zone (near Old Airport), from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Parade queen Hannah Kihalani Springer will be riding with colleagues from the Kona Historical Society’s Ranching Project. Her unit will highlight the flora of Hannah’s family lands of Hu‘ehu‘e Ranch in North Kona. Cultural historian Danny Akaka will accompany Hannah on horseback while singing and playing ukulele. A longtime paniolo with Hu‘ehu‘e Ranch and accomplished musician, Karin Haleamau, will be this year’s grand marshal. His son Kevin will be a strolling troubadour with his equestrian unit. All eight Hawaiian islands will be represented by pa‘u princesses outfitted in the colors and flora of their respective islands, accompanied by attendants, outriders and pages. Daughters of Hawaii will have a pa‘u equestrian unit as well. Other parade honorees include Miss Aloha Nui Kalai‘e Yoremura and Little Miss Ka‘u Coffee.
Holualoa Inn is located just a five-minute drive from Kailua-Kona. In honor of King Kamehameha Day during the month of June, the Inn is offering a “Celebrate Your King” special romance package (that’s also fit for a queen!).
Innkeeper Holualoa Inn