Jim Jung hit the trifecta in 2018.
He was named Outstanding Older Male on Kauai, was selected in August as a Living Treasure, and now will be grand marshal in Saturday’s Veterans Day Parade.
“This is capping off everything,” Jung said. “The honors don’t stop, it’s amazing.”
Humbled by the accolades he’s receiving from the community, Jung said he puts effort into being a positive force.
“I subscribe to the wisdom of an old Greek philosopher named Aristotle,” he said. “Someone asked him, ‘what’s the essence of life?’ and he said ‘to serve others and do good.’ That’s what I’ve tried to do.”
Jung served in the Coast Guard for eight years and then served in the Coast Guard auxiliary for 15 years.
“I graduated from boot camp in New Jersey,” he said. “The commanding officer said, ‘We’ve taught you how to shoot weapons, but we want you to go out and save lives, not take them.’”
During the parade, he plans to be in the Kauai Veterans Council convertible with his son Ian behind the wheel.
“My four grandchildren will be riding in it waving flags,” he said. “It’s such a great honor, I can’t believe it. I thought you had to be in your 90s to be grand marshal.”
Saturday, Kauai Veterans Council and the Kapaa Business Association are hosting an all-day event in Kapaa Town, and the parade kicks off festivities at 9:30 a.m.
Horses from CJM Country Stables, bands from Kapaa High School, Kauai High School and Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School will perform along with the Pacific Fleet Band from Oahu.
“We’ve got 50 groups participating with roughly over 1,000 total (people),” said Russel Maeda, of Kauai Veterans Council. “After the parade they’ll have food vendors and craft fair and the mini coconut festival all going on at the same time.”
In the mix, the veterans on Kauai will be honored at Kapaa Beach Park, with a prayer by Jung and a ceremony.
The Coconut Festival usually takes place every October in Kapaa and is a celebration of the iconic coconut trees along the Royal Coconut Coast. The 22nd annual festival was set for October, but was canceled because of a failure to meet deadlines for grant applications.
Saturday, noon to 5, a mini version of the festival will boast food trucks, crafters, music, activities for keiki and cooking demonstrations — all flavored with a little bit of coconut.
Kapaa’s First Saturday street party and art walk will be ongoing throughout the rest of the town.
Kuhio Highway is closing for the parade Saturday morning from Makaha Road to Niu Street. The closure starts at 8:30 a.m. and will continue through the conclusion of the parade. During the closure, traffic will be diverted to the Kapa‘a Bypass Road and normal contra-flow of Kuhio Highway will not be affected.
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Jessica Else, environment reporter, can be reached at 245-0452 or jelse@thegardenisland.com.
