LIHU‘E — Coming on the heels of Black Friday and Shop Small Business Saturday, hundreds of shoppers took a break to enjoy the 19th annual Kaua‘i Christmas Parade Saturday at Kukui Grove Center. Sponsored by the Garden Island Federal Credit
LIHU‘E — Coming on the heels of Black Friday and Shop Small Business Saturday, hundreds of shoppers took a break to enjoy the 19th annual Kaua‘i Christmas Parade Saturday at Kukui Grove Center.
Sponsored by the Garden Island Federal Credit Union, the Kaua‘i Teachers Federal Credit Union and Kukui Grove, the parade moved from its traditional staging area behind Big Kmart to the area set aside for the weekly Monday Market.
The traditional favorites were joined by the monster trucks of Pure 808 Customs.
Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. and county employees, garbed in holiday red or festive green, led the parade that wound past the reviewing stand set up outside Times Supermarket, where members of Kaua‘i High School Key Club were manning the Salvation Army Red Kettle.
“We’ll be doing the Red Kettles on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 5 to 9 p.m. through Christmas,” said Key Club officer Rochelle Cadiente.
Cadiente said the Kaua‘i High Key Club also maintains Red Kettles at the Big Kmart store and in front of Long’s Drugs, which required song coordinator Diamon Leoso and Tasha Leota to juggle between the three locations in leading students in holiday carols for shoppers.
B.B. Choi and Ron Wood of FM97 served as parade announcers while Ron Wiley of KQNG Radio Group joined the KQNG Gorilla staff in distributing bananas.
Choi continued on as the host for the post-parade festivities leading to the performance of two-time Na Hoku Hanohano winner Kupaoa, one of the parade judges. Wood, playing a character in the Hawai‘i Children’s Theater production of “Scrooge,” adjourned to prepare for the Saturday night performance.
The Kalaheo Elementary School Sunshine Express led by Laine Griffith repeated as the top Vehicle Unit in the judging, followed by the Kaua‘i Classic Cars caravan which maintained its traditional spot in Kmart’s back parking lot.
Pure 808 Customs, featuring a lineup of oversized pickups, earned third place as a new entry in the parade. Other entries included a Mexican Christmas by the La Bamba ‘ohana and a crew from Macy’s who advertised its upcoming Friends promotion.
“This is quite an honor,” Griffith said. “Kalaheo School Sunshine Express has taken top honors in every Kaua‘i Christmas Parade since I’ve been there, except for one year. But this is possible because of all the effort put forth by the students and their parents who work hard in preparing the train.”
Top honors in the Marching Unit was presented to the Dog Fanciers of Kaua‘i, successfully defending its title from last year.
Runner-up honors went to Tamatea Nui O Kaua‘i. Na Hoku O Kaua‘i pageant earned third place for the Marching Unit.
The star, however, remained Santa Claus, who anchored the parade following the “candy brigade” formed by the two credit union sponsors.
“This is my favorite time of the year,” Santa said while waiting to present the awards. “I love being in Christmas parades. From where I sit, I make eye contact with the little ones and watch them melt — OMG, Santa looked at me! — it’s such a warm feeling.”
Visit www.kukuigrovecenter.com for a complete listing of holiday entertainment.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
