Everyone loves a parade!

LIHU‘E — “Well, I guess this starts the holiday parade circuit,” one excited parent said while browsing through the pastry offerings at Kauai Bakery & Cinnamon following the 10th Annual Kauai Christmas Parade around Kukui Grove Center Saturday.

Over a thousand spectators lined the sidewalks and parking lots of Kukui Grove, many taking time out of their shopping routines to settle in and watch the parade welcome in the holiday season.

The parade was once again hosted by the Lihue Credit Union in cooperation with other credit unions in the Lihu‘e area. Ralph Fujinaka of Lihue Credit Union is backed by his capable staff as they put together the extravaganza that saw the Kalaheo Sunshine Express top the Vehicle/Float Category.

The Sunshine Express featured the young Kalaheo School choral group supplemented with other students to fill the Christmas train that was decorated with lights and greenery, one parent noting that she had to rush off from the Wilcox School craft fair to help decorate the train.

This week, the train moves over to a parent’s home, where it will be fitted with lights and more decorations in preparation for Friday night’s Lights on Rice parade that starts at 6:30 p.m.

The KONG Radio Group unit that was highlighted by a miniature firefighter and their radio personality, Ron Wiley, decked out in his holiday tuxedo, finished in the runner up position, and the animated snowman amongst the beauty queens earned Na Hoku ‘O Kaua‘i third place in that division.

Larry McIntosh, the director of Ku Kilakila all-Kaua‘i Island Marching Band, got support from his “auxiliary” that included kumu hula Wallis Punua, and numerous other parent volunteers as the 300-member band debuted their white Tournament of Roses shirts for the Kukui Grove parade.

Extracting comments of, “We’re so proud of you!” from several spectators, the contingent of hula and Tahitian dancers, warriors, and the musicians earned top honors in the Marching Unit competition.

Ku Kilakila will be performing in the 2005 Tournament of Roses parade on Jan. 1, 2005 in Pasadena, Calif.

The Girl Scouts Brownie Troop 812 under the leadership of Leesha Kawamura picked up the runner-up slot for their holiday presentations that had the Brownies’ parents accompanying the group while leader Kawamura settled in to photograph their performance.

The Brownies had earlier in the month topped their division at the Veterans Day parade held in Kapa‘a, and prior to appearing at the Saturday event were the guests of owners and operators of Kealia Kai, where they made short work of preparing the 6,000 light sticks that will be distributed during the Friday-night Lights on Rice parade.

A Hawaiian Santa whose booming voice soared over the heads of the spectators anchored the Lihu‘e Baptist Church entry that captured third place in the Marching Unit division.

Kukui Grove General Manager Wade Lord had his daughters working the crowd by distributing goodies, and Mary Daubert, the shopping center’s promotions manager, cut short her pre-parade entertainment so she could man her own cart in the parade.

Daubert said the crowd was about the same as last year, and the weather held up for the march around the perimeter of the shopping center, ending at the Kukui Grove park and pavilion where the parade originated.

Col. Jerald Knudsen and the Kapa‘a JROTC cadets group provided the color guard for the event that also included Sparky the Fire Dog.

Saxophone player Denny Morouse and Hank Curtis provided the pre-parade entertainment fronting the judges’ stand set up outside Star Market.

This Friday, Dec. 3, Rice Street comes alive with the Lights on Rice parade, and on Saturday, Dec. 18, the streets of Waimea will light up at their annual lights extravaganza.

Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@pulitzer.net.