Although the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic forced Hawaii Island LGBTQ Pride to cancel its annual Pride festival, organizers found a new way to celebrate.
The nonprofit organization will host “Drive-Thru Pride” from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday in the Hawaii County Building parking lot at 25 Aupuni St. in Hilo.
Board member Greg Lupton said the planning committee had been meeting via Zoom since the onset of COVID-19 and was progressing as if it would host a regular parade and festival at the end of this month.
By the end of May, however, organizers decided to cancel the festival and have “virtual Pride” events online, featuring 30 days of online presentations.
Lupton said it was about the same time he saw local high schools celebrating with drive-through graduations, and he thought the group could also do the same.
The committee was leery at first but warmed up to the idea, he said. Earlier this month, it began to look for a place to host the celebration.
“As we brainstormed, we wanted to try to bring together as many components of a regular Pride festival, with constraints of social distancing and wearing masks,” Lupton said.
Guests will remain in their cars but can order food from local vendors, get a grab bag of goodies and free drinks, buy Pride shirts, take photos of drag queens and win prizes. Local businesses and social service organizations also will be on hand sharing information.
While they can’t offer live entertainment, a focus of past festivals, Lupton said drag queens will be stationed in two places where pictures can be taken.
Those who participate also are encouraged to decorate their vehicles, or “Pride Your Ride.” Prizes will be given to those with the finest decorations.
According to Lupton, volunteers will be in masks or face shields when interacting with people.
“I just know my group. Even with masks over their smiles, I think they’re going to be glowing to see people come through, and I hope people in their cars will pick up on that,” he said.
Lupton said the group’s mission is to bring people together.
“That’s our primary mission, and so even if it’s bringing people together in their cars, we’re hoping it will create connections for the people who attend.”
The network of volunteers also grows each year and brings people together who might not gather for any other reason, he said.
“Whatever happens, I think we’ll achieve both of those things,” Lupton said.
This is the group’s eighth annual Pride. This year’s theme is “I Can See Queerly Now,” which speaks to the nonprofit’s outlook that the future is about diversity and difference.
“Many young people today are discovering the freedom to embrace new categories or no categories at all,” the organization said in a news release. “We are also reclaiming the word ‘queer,’ once used as a slur, as a term to celebrate who we are and who we are becoming.”
To keep the drive-through moving along, all purchases will be cash only. Food choices will be $5 or $10, shirts are $25 and pins and flags are $10. Donations and tips for the drag queens also will be accepted.
Lupton said organizers are trying to make sure transactions are no more than about 30 seconds, but it will take about 10-15 minutes to go through the entire drive-through.
Participants should enter Aupuni Street from Kilauea Avenue and proceed makai to the county building.
Other community Pride events include:
• PINK! The third annual official Pride after-party, streamed on Facebook Live at 7 p.m. Saturday on the “PINK It’s a Show” Facebook page.
• After After Party Virtual Dance, presented by Hawaii Electronic Rainbow Dance, 9 p.m. Saturday. Link can be found on the “Hawaii Island LGBTQ Pride” Facebook page.
• Palace Theater is streaming “Clementine.” Visit hilopalace.com for more details.
Email Stephanie Salmons at ssalmons@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
