The Royal Parade will meander Saturday through downtown Hilo to celebrate the 61st annual Merrie Monarch Festival.
The parade — Hilo’s largest of the year — will start at 10:30 a.m.
Kanoe and Koral Wilson have been the co-chairs and organizers of the parade for three years and are excited to continue enhancing the experience for participants and onlookers.
“One thing we worked out last year was having more emcee stations, including the large stage at the Hilo Town Market, which was a huge hit,” Kanoe Wilson said. “After creating partnerships and getting blessings from (festival President Luana Kawelu), we were able to open four more emcee stations last year.”
There will be a total of nine emcee stations, with two new locations, situated around the festival’s regular parade route to allow more attendees the opportunity to learn about the specific cultural traditions and organizations behind each float.
“During the parade, we bring forth cultural traditions and celebrate the history of the Hawaiian Kingdom,” Kanoe Wilson said. “Every island is represented, but the Hilo community is able to showcase who we are and where we come from.”
The route begins at Piopio Street, turns left on Pauahi Street, then right on Kilauea Avenue, continuing onto Keawe Street, then turning right on Waianuenue Avenue, and right on Kamehameha Avenue before ending at Bishop Street.
The first emcee station is new and located at the County Building on Pauahi Street. The second station is the main stage at Central Pacific Bank on Kilauea Avenue, and the third station, sponsored by Kanaokana, will be narrated in Hawaiian at the parking lot of Ben Franklin Crafts.
The fourth emcee station is new and located at KTA Super Stores on Keawe Street. The fifth will also be on Keawe in front of Spencer’s Health and Fitness. The sixth is on the stage at the Hilo Town Market, and the seventh station will be at the Mokuapapapa Discovery Center.
The Hilo Downtown Improvement Association is sponsoring the eighth station at the Mo‘oheau Bandstand, and the final station will be at the Bayfront Soccer Fields on Kamehameha Avenue.
This will be DIA’s first time running an emcee station, which will be hosted by KBIG radio station and The Beat’s Sasha “Sister Sauce” Kauwale and Hawaiiz Own Mainlan from We Stranded Records.
“Our coverage of the parade will include the normal response to the floats, organizations, bands and performances, but we will also be drawing attention to downtown businesses,” said DIA President Lorraine Shin. “We want to do live interviews with businesses where they can talk about what Merrie Monarch means to businesses in Hilo.”
DIA hopes to prepare downtown more each year in time for Merrie Monarch as they work to make the area more enjoyable and safe.
“Interestingly enough, the Merrie Monarch Festival and the DIA were created to help rebuild Hilo after the 1960s tsunami,” Shin said. “We’re very excited to be part of this parade and part of this Hilo tradition.”
Larry Kimura, a professor of Hawaiian language and Hawaiian studies at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, will serve as this year’s grand marshal due to his contributions to the Hawaiian language movement.
The celebration comes 41 years after the development of ‘Aha Punana Leo, the first early childhood Hawaiian-language immersion program, which was founded by Kimura and other Hawaiian language educators.
“Larry helped develop the program for Hawaiian language in early childhood, and it feels only fitting to celebrate 40 years later,” said parade co-chair Kanoe Wilson. “We are proud to have him be part of it. Former students of his and their own children will probably be part of his entourage during the parade.”
The ‘Aha Punana Leo started in Hilo and now spans 13 different locations across the state.
Like most years, parade attendees can expect high school marching bands from Hilo, Waiakea and Kamehameha Schools Hawaii, as well as the U.S. Pacific Fleet Band.
Pa‘u riders, well-respected paniolo and several youth and community organizations will bring forth the unique cultural traditions of Hawaii.
While the Merrie Monarch Festival mostly surrounds Hawaiian culture, the parade brings out the diversity found on the islands.
“It’s a time that we’re all celebrating our community in general. There are all kinds of people involved in the parade, and it’s a sight to see,” Kanoe Wilson said. “As a past participant, it’s amazing to be part of it, and even more of an honor and privilege to coordinate the parade.”
Kanoe Wilson said she expects 10,000 to 15,000 people to line the streets of Hilo for the free, family-friendly parade.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Royal Parade will close the entirety of Pauahi Street, Keawe Street and Bayfront Highway, as well as the portion of Kamehameha Avenue between Waianuenue Avenue and the Suisan Bridge, the portion of Kilauea Avenue between Pauahi and Ponahawai Street, and the portion of Waianuenue Avenue between Keawe and Kamehameha.
Parking will be restricted along the parade route and adjacent streets. Public transportation is encouraged.
“It’s a time of year with an influx of visitors, so this is our mahalo to Hilo for supporting us every year,” Kanoe Wilson said. “We want to thank everybody for coming out and celebrating the legacy that our kupuna started for us over six decades ago.”
Email Kelsey Walling at kwalling@hawaiitribune-herald.com.