ACLU deal separates
church from July 3
park festivities
The city's Independence Day celebration at Kapiolani Park will be without the Christian nuances of last year as a result of a court settlement reached with the American Civil Liberties Union.
Picnic in the park
Where: Kapiolani Park bandstand areaWhen: 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m., July 3
What: Musical entertainment and food booths all day; After sunset, offshore aerial fireworks and the Sunset on the Beach movie "Cheaper by the Dozen." The Kid's Parade begins at 5 p.m. from Ala Moana Park to Kapiolani Park, sponsored by the Hawaii Christian Coalition.
The ACLU planned a news conference for this afternoon to announce the settlement. The deal underscores separation between the city-sponsored Picnic in the Park on July 3 and the Hawaii Christian Coalition's Kids Parade through Waikiki the same day.
The deal settles claims made last year that the city violated the U.S. Constitution by providing money and personnel for events that "promote and endorse conservative Christian values."
The suit claimed that government and church group were involved in an illegal partnership in a "Family Day Festival" last July 5.
According to the suit:
>> Organizations seeking to participate were directed by the city's Web site to send checks to Christian Family Charities.>> City personnel took part in the parade, staged for the first time last year by the Hawaii Christian Coalition. Deputy Managing Director Malcolm Tom led planning meetings. Managing Director Ben Lee drove a vehicle in the parade.
>> Nine Christian music groups performed during all-day entertainment and a children's event involved Christian proselytizing to "save souls."
The ACLU challenge began on behalf of three gay rights groups that applied to join the 2003 parade because, they said, city involvement made it a public forum. They were denied.
U.S. District Judge Helen Gillmor upheld the denial, ruling that the event was privately sponsored.
The suit on behalf of several individuals, including two ministers, was later expanded to include the park celebration and a Christian Coalition February Family Day event at Aala Park, claiming city funds were used "to improperly promote evangelical Christian fundamentalist views."
Coalition president Garret Hashimoto disputed the assertion. "They claimed that park event was an evangelistic service going on. That was the furthest from the truth," Hashimoto said. "We had all different types of music. Granted, there was some Christian music."
"There was nothing political in founding a parade," said Hashimoto, who came up with the idea. "We just want to give kids a venue where family and friends could see them and give them positive role models, the police, firemen, city workers, rather than musicians and sports stars."
City spokeswoman Carol Costa said yesterday that a settlement would lead to setting rules that will define a "First Amendment" parade, and that no city personnel will participate in the parade.
She would not comment further, saying the deal was not yet final.
"The way we look at this, it is not just a victory for the filers but for supporters of free speech and equal rights everywhere," said Michael Golojuch Jr., spokesman for Parents Family Friends of Lesbians and Gays of Oahu.
ACLU Legal Director Lois Perrin declined to give details yesterday, saying talks were still underway with Deputy City Corporation Counsel Greg Swartz.
