Supporters of Kailua's annual Fourth of July fireworks show are again being asked to dig into their wallets and coin purses to keep the tradition alive.

Brook Gramann and Gloria Garvey are hoping to raise $30,000 in 30 days.

A total of $50,000 is needed to put on the fireworks show at Kailua Beach Park. About $20,000 has been raised and Gramann and Garvey have restarted a grassroots group called “;Save Kailua's Fireworks!”; to come up with the rest.

In the past, the show was organized by the Kailua Chamber of Commerce, which withdrew their participation from the event last year. Gramann and other volunteers raised more than $52,000 in two weeks last year to put on the show.

“;We didn't think we would have to do that this year, but we do,”; said Garvey.

Yesterday, Garvey and Gramann collected donations ranging from pennies to $100 and passed out free shave ice to people at Kailua Shopping Center to raise awareness about the effort to save the fireworks show.

“;This really is a grassroots movement which I think makes it even more special,”; said state Sen. Jill Tokuda (D, Kaneohe-Enchanted Lake), who helped greet people and take orders. “;It's something that we want to make sure continues.”;

“;You need a certain amount of money to buy a certain amount of fireworks to make it worth going on,”; said Gramann, who chairs the fundraising committee.

Gramann said they raised about $700 yesterday. The committee has also received contributions from Castle Medical Group, the John King family, Foodland, McDonald's Kailua and the office of state Rep. Cynthia Thielen (R, Kailua-Kaneohe Bay).

If the goal of $30,000 is not met in time, Gramann said checks would be returned and the cash would be saved to put on a fireworks show next year.

There's been a Fourth of July fireworks show in Kailua every year since 1948.

“;Tradition, that's the key word,”; said Scott Carvill, one of the committee members. “;It's kind of the showcase time for Kailua, for people who come from the rest of the island and enjoy what we've got.”;

“;Save Kailua's Fireworks!”; has put up 24 donation boxes at merchants across Kailua. For a list of the participating merchants or how you can donate, visit www.kailuafireworks.com.