Annual celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. today

Some 35 years ago, West Hawaii’s first celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. took place under a tree at Old Kona Airport.

About 15 people attended.

These days, the annual event draws upward of 250 people, and its popularity is steadily growing.

Today, folks of all races will gather at noon at the Makaeo Events Pavilion to share music, performances, readings from King’s speeches and a potluck lunch.

But most of all, they’ll share the great civil rights leader’s dream of unity and peace.

“To me, it’s unity, bringing people together of all races, cultures and religions,” said event organizer Mamie Bramlett. “That was Dr. King’s message.”

Her late husband, Frank Bramlett, initiated the celebration before King’s birthday, Jan. 15, was recognized as a federal holiday in 1983.

“He wanted to start this awareness because it wasn’t yet a holiday,” Bramlett said.

“He said, ‘We’re going to keep doing this until they make it a holiday.’”

The program will include performances by local school children reading speech excerpts, the Kona Choral Society, the Hawaii County Band, Hoagus Boagus Da Clown, the Martin Luther King Jr. Choir, as well as hula performances.

Hilo poet, author and performer Michele Dalton will give the keynote address.

“We’re excited to hear what he’s going to say,” said Ernest Young, one of the event’s organizers. “We have a lot of the schools participating as well.”

A retired national park ranger, Young joined the group a decade ago.

“I always worked on Sundays. I knew about the celebration, but I couldn’t attend,” Young said.

“So when I retired, I joined the group.”

Some 40 volunteers help make the event a reality, from organizing to serving, set-up and cleanup, Bramlett said.

Two volunteers fly in from the mainland each year to help out.

“Every year, we get people from different races saying, ‘We want to be a part of this,’” she said.

For more information, contact Virginia Halliday at 325-1112 or Mamie Bramlett at 331-1448.