Conde Nast, take note!
The Daily Beast and Conde Nast recently named the 7 best 4th of July parades in the US. From Bristol, Rhode Island to Aptos, in Central California as well as Washington DC were among the mentioned. For my money, they missed an original. The Fourth of July, Volcano, Hawaii Parade should have been included.
Beginning at nine am, or close to it as we are on Island time, The Sons of Kamehameha lead the festivities with conch shell calls to attention, followed by the color guard.
The oldest still performing USO entertainer, M J Svoboda twirled her way down main street Volcano in heels and a fetching navy blue swim suit. At seventy years old her love of the United States and her passion to entertain until “everyone comes home” is uber patriotic.
Her captivating smile and baton harks back to a mid western youth.
You simply cannot sit and watch!
Everyone was waving flags and giving hearty aloha’s to their neighbors and friends in the parade and on the side lines. There was an Elvis impersonator in a white convertible Eldorado. Crimson red pants outfit and a perfect pompadour that Elvis would have been sported, were seen driving right behind Lady Liberty and Uncle Sam.
Moving from the central location of the Volcano Post Office to Cooper Center, all manner of dog and cat organizations, the Volcano National Park rangers as well as the Hawaii County Band awaits this yearly festivity.
Hard core Harley motorcycle riders with their Jack Russell terriers on board revved up the atmosphere. The Grand Marshall, Betsey, held court in a specially decorated golf cart with newly installed seat belts courtesy of a local Volcano legend.
The retinue of dancing, singing and chanted Hare Krishna devotees brought up the rear of the parade with a colorful float as the exclamation point ending.
Cooper Center, the local farmer’s market site on Sunday mornings, held a pancake breakfast, entertaining singers from the local production of Beauty and the Beast and chickens bar b queing to benefit the Rotary.
Conde Nast needs to add Volcano Hawaii 4th of July Parade to their Best in the US! Put it on your list of Must See’s for the 4th!