LIHUE — When the 108th Kauai King’s Parade and Ho‘olaule‘a unfolds from 9 a.m. on Saturday, the festive event serves as not only a venue of entertainment, but a perpetuation of Hawaiian culture and protocol.
“The king is separate,” said Melissia Sugai, the chair of the 2025 King’s celebration during efforts to create publicity photographs. “The Pa‘u queen belongs with the Pa‘u princesses, and not with the king.”
Funded in part by the King’s Commission and the Hawaii Tourism Authority, the floral parade gets support from the County of Kauai, Kilohana and Hawaiian Airlines. The parade features horses and horseback riders including the Pa‘u princesses representing the different islands, the Royal Court, community floats and a number of walking units.
“I’m Japanese,” said Jade Nakamoto who will be the Pa‘u princess representing Kauai. “But my child is Hawaiian. I do this so one day, he’ll have something to talk about with his family.”
To accommodate the parade that starts at the Vidinha Stadium south parking lot (the north-side parking is reserved for fans attending the Kauai Police Activities League flag football games), Rice Street from Hoolako Street to the Haleko Road intersection will be closed to vehicular traffic from around 8:30 a.m. until the parade ends at the historic County Building lawn.
Additionally, there will be adjustments to the operation of The Kauai Bus during the parade.
Kauai County Councilmember Bernard Carvalho has been selected to be the parade’s grand marshal, and longtime cowboy Jimmy Miranda has been named the Pa‘u marshal.
Following the parade, and the ho‘okupu presentations, the ho‘olaulea blooms on the lawn of the historic County Building until 2 p.m. with ample opportunities for hands-on cultural demonstrations such as konane, or Hawaiian checkers with John Kaohelaulii, and opportunities to create lei with Kauai’s kupuna.
A lot of the food vendors are carrying over from last week’s Kauai Pride Parade and Festival such as Shaka Burger, Kanak attack, and Kiyomi’s Sweet Treats.
Ample shopping opportunities present themselves from the more than a dozen vendors, and a full slate of entertainment is on tap.
For more information, visit www.kauaifestivals.com.
