WHEN Henry Hasuike was growing up in Moiliili, he loved the community's annual Christmas parade. On a usually blustery night, he and his family would stake out a good viewing spot on the sidewalk. Then, from the distance, Hasuike would hear the approaching marching band. His heart, already racing from the music, would pump even harder after he scampered for candy tossed by jolly Mr. Ho-Ho-Ho himself. A Lion roars with pride
over paradeThose small-kid times are pau. Henry Hasuike is 51 years old now, and he lives in Halawa Heights. Yet he has never forgotten the thrill of the Santa Claus procession.
So these days, instead of watching the parade pass him by (so to speak), he painstakingly plans it.
At 5:30 p.m. this Sunday, when the McCully Christmas Parade begins making its way on South King Street from Washington Intermediate to Stadium Park, Hasuike will be among those marching in the rear.
For the past six months, however, he's literally been at the forefront of the project - doing most of the planning, fund-raising, booking and paperwork for the annual event sponsored by the Kalia Lions Club.
At first glance, he seems to be a glutton for punishment. Why would a guy volunteer, year after year, to chair one of the biggest undertakings of any Lions chapter?
There's a lot involved: Hasuike has to obtain the permit and insurance; sign up and schedule the bands, police escorts, dignitaries and marching units; solicit the $2,000 in donations to pay for goods and services; and, ultimately, worry, worry, worry.
Why does he do it? It takes a while to get the truth out of Hasuike. After all, the quality assurance specialist with the Hawaii Air National Guard is not exactly the most talkative person on Oahu.
Hasuike says all of the headaches are worth it because the parade brings recognition to his club, pride to his fellow Lions and joy to the neighborhood kids. But mostly, he finally admits, he does it to show respect to his late dad, Harold, who was one of the original members of the Kalia Lions.
"It's my way of paying honor to his name," explains Hasuike. "When I was small, there was always somebody else to do everything for us, even to plan the parades. Now, it's time for me to give back."
Hasuike lauds the support of his fellow Lions, who dug deeper this year to make up for a drop in donations from neighborhood businesses. He especially cites Wally Teruya, who gave him a good price on candy from Times Supermarket ($892 worth!), and Ralph Steensen, who will once again don the Santa costume because of his plentiful white hair and cheerful disposition.
THE parade will take only 40 minutes to pass by. The procession will be led by Chinese lion dancers. Following them will be scout troops, the Lunalilo Elementary JPOs, Washington Intermediate students and faculty, senior citizens on an Enoa Tours Trolley, clowns and the mandatory politicians. Pulling up the rear will be the 60-member McKinley High School marching band and, perched atop a fire truck, that perennial show-stopper and candy-thrower, St. Nick.
Also riding on that ladder truck, for the third year in a row, will be Hasuike's 3-year-old grandson, Zachary Leong. The toddler's presence is a reminder to Henry of the real reason he agonizes over McCully's annual Christmas parade and community celebration.
Zach's great-grandpa would be proud.