[ WEEKEND ]
Isles light off
celebrations
Fireworks will fill the sky over Honolulu Harbor at 8:45 p.m. on Saturday; and 8 p.m. over Kailua Beach Park and 8:30 p.m. over Ala Moana Beach Sunday, with plenty of events in between celebrating American freedom.
Here's a list of events taking place throughout the state:
Today
» "Patriots Celebration 2004": Hawaii Foodbank's 9th annual event honors the Hawaii National Guard at a dinner with proceeds to help feed the hungry in Hawaii. Starts with 6 p.m. cocktails and a 7 p.m. dinner and program at Hilton Hawaiian Village's Coral Ballroom. More than 1,000 guards were activated or deployed during Operation Enduring Freedom. Also to be honored will be the State Civil Defense, Office of Veterans Services and Youth Challenge Academy. Seats are $200 each. Veterans, active-duty military and their spouses pay $100 each; Hawaii National Guard members (full uniform) and their spouses pay $60 each. Call 836-3600, ext. 228.» Aloha Boat Days: Welcome The Pride of at Aloha Tower, behind Kapono's, where there will be live music, hula and free refreshments evoking 1950s port arrivals and departures. The maiden voyage arrival is at 6:45 a.m. today. Fund-raiser greeting is at 3:30 p.m. Saturday and maiden voyage aloha is at 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Information: www.alohaboatdays.org.
Saturday
» Kailua honors heroes: With its 58th annual parade, festival and sky show. The parade starts at 10 a.m. along Kainalu Drive, with community groups, floats and musicians sauntering down the street in patriotic and Carnival costumes. This year's grand marshal is 103-year-old World War I veteran, Maj. Gen. Frank Steer, who'll appear with two Medal of Honor winners, the most recent Purple Heart awardee from Iraq and a trolley full of war heroes.After the parade, head to Kailua District Park for a "Freedom Festival" with food and entertainment from noon to 4 p.m., including free samples of Cold Stone Creamery ice cream, a Boy Scouts Krispy Kreme fund-raiser, swimwear fashion show, display of antique military vehicles, and keiki bicycle obstacle course with free bike tune-ups.
After an afternoon exploring Kailua Town, and stay for the fireworks over the water at Kailua Beach Park beginning at 8 p.m. For more information, call 261-2727.
» 4th of July Picnic in the Park: Kapiolani Park and Bandstand is the place for families, with two days of food, entertainment, keiki games and merriment in celebration of our nation's birthday. Saturday's performers include Ho'olu, Jan Kaeo, Amplified, Drill Team Hawaii, Na Pu'ukani, Royal Hawaiian Band, Chinese jumping lions and "Hawaii Stars" singing patriotic songs.
Sunday's performers include Two Girls and a Guy, Stacie Taniguchi, Paula Fuga, Kut Master Spaz, Buckz Boyz with Simplicity, Na Leo Naha Nahe o Kupuna, SUGahDADDY and Shinning Start. Ukulele wiz Jake Shimabukuro headlines.
On both days, a children's stage will feature Filipino martial arts, Brazilian capoeira, dancers, clowns, and more. Displays around the bandstand will include antique military vehicles, classic cars, junior dragsters, and police, fire and EMS vehicles. Food booths will be set up to feature everything from ribs and garlic shrimp, to pizza and slush.
At 5 p.m., more entertainment will begin at Sunset at the Beach (see Do It! on page 27). Stay for the 8:45 p.m. fireworks show. Call 523-4385.
» Pre-Independence Day Celebration: Aloha Tower Marketplace will feature entertainment from noon to 9 p.m. with Frank DeLima at 2 p.m., Kapena at 8:15 p.m., several martial arts demonstrations, and a 7 p.m. fashion show by The Catwalk Co. There will also be inflatables; doughnut-, watermelon-, and pie-eating contests; strolling entertainers and patriotic hair painting. Stay for the fireworks over Honolulu Harbor at 8:45 p.m. Free. Call 566-2337.
» All-American Festival: Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center hosts a Fourth of July concert featuring the Pacific Fleet Big Band, merchant fashion show, country music from Dita Holifield & Detour South, and line-dance lessons, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Fountain Courtyard. Free. Enter to win two tickets to an "American Idol" concert in September. Park for $1 per hour (five-hour maximum) in the RHSC garage, with visitor's center validation. The rate applies through Monday. Call 922-2299.
>> Third of July Fireworks and Cocktail/Admiral's Dinner Cruise: It's smooth sailing from the Aloha Tower Marketplace to Diamond Head, as The Star of Honolulu offers the opportunity to view Honolulu's fireworks show while enjoying Hawaiian entertainment from 8:30 p.m. The cocktail cruise is $39 for adults and $23.50 for ages 3 to 11. Military and kamaaina rates are $29.25 for adults and $19 for keiki, with I.D. The dinner cruise features live jazz and a three-course meal of Maine lobster and prime beef tenderloin. The cost is $120 general; the military and kamaaina rate is $90. Call 983-STAR (7827).
» 4th of July Grand Slam Parade: Hawaii Christian Coalition hosts a family tribute parade starting at 5 p.m. Saturday at Fort DeRussy, continuing down Kalakaua Avenue to the Kapiolani Park Bandstand.
Sunday
» Waialua Bandstand in the Park: Patriotic concert at the new bandstand will feature the Hawaii National Guard, performing from 5 to 6 p.m. Bandmaster Warrant Officer Curtis Hiyane (a k a Mililani High School band director), will lead his 40-member military group in a program of band music and vocal selections. Picnicking on the tree-shaded lawn, reminiscent of old-time Fourth of July celebrations in the park, is welcome. The bandstand is across from Waialua Public Library on Goodale Avenue at Kealohanui Street.» Fourth of July in Style: A pre-fireworks show begins at Ala Moana Center on the parking deck makai (oceanside) of Sears, with entertainment and live radio remotes, ending with a 20 minutes of pyrotechnics exploding over Ala Moana Beach.
Ryan's Grill at Ward Centre will also be hosting a rooftop fireworks viewing party from 5 to 10 p.m. Call 591-9132 for details.
On Maui
» Celebrating America's Independence: The Kaanapali Beach Resort Association pays tribute to freedom at Whalers Village from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.Kids can enjoy inflatables, face painting, carnival games, arts and crafts, and a coloring contest with prizes. An Uncle Sam stilt-walker and strolling magician will entertain with juggling feats and balloon animals. Balloon arches and sculptures in a red, white and blue will adorn the Whalers Village walkways.
Also, check out the Maui Cruisers' Classic Car Show of 1916-1960 vintage autos along the Kaanapali Parkway. There will also be shows of magic, yo-yo artistry, Thailand's Mahidol University College of Music String Quartet and Saxophone Quartet, and New York's Nassau-Suffolk Wind Symphony Orchestra. Call the Kaanapali Beach Resort Association at (808) 661-3271.
» July 4th Jamboree: Will be held poolside at Sheraton Maui throughout the day Sunday. Entertainment highlights include Hawaiian music and magic performances, balloon art and face painting. Call (808) 662-8053.
» Taste of Marriott: From noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Maui Marriott Resort & Ocean Club on the Kaanapali Beachwalk is the place to be for food and beverages, with plenty of edibles for purchase, such as mango barbecue ribs, shrimp kebabs or such All-American faves such as cheeseburgers, hot dogs, apple pie sundaes, root beer floats and rainbow shave ice.
Work up your appetite enjoying keiki and family activities from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., including a water-balloon toss, sack race and pie-eating contest, horseshoe and croquet tournaments. Call (808) 667-8356 to purchase scrip.
» Lahaina Town fireworks: Watch the show from anywhere in Lahaina as it fires off from a barge off the 800 block of Front Street beginning at about 8 p.m. Front Street will be closed to vehicles from 5 to 9 p.m. between Baker and Dickenson streets; arrive early because parking on Front Street will be prohibited beginning at 4:30 p.m., reopening at 9 p.m. For traffic updates, call (808) 667-9175.
On the Big Isle
» Turtle Independence Day: Celebrate the release of baby honu at the Mauna Lani Resort Sunday, where you'll also see some very human symbols of American freedom: flags, hot dogs, music, a parade, balloon animals and face painting. Since 1989 the resort has raised juvenile honu in its saltwater ponds as part of a cultural awareness program to protect this threatened species. The honu are cared for until they grow to a size and weight that makes them less susceptible to predators when released into the wild. This release takes place at the ocean's edge fronting Mauna Lani Bay, beginning with 8:30 a.m. festivities, and the sendoff at 9:30 a.m. Call (808) 885-6622.
On Kauai
» Concert in the Sky: Kauai Hospice hosts this event -- with food, entertainment, silent auction and a closing 20-minute fireworks show -- running 3 to 9:30 p.m. Sunday at Vidinha Stadium, 3170 Hoolako St. in Lihue. Tickets are $7 in advance, available at Big Save stores and Menehune Marts until noon tomorrow (until 11 p.m. at Big Save, Lihue). Or pay $10 at gate. Children 5 and under admitted free. Call (808) 246-2440.
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