Annual Pineapple Festival At Wahiawa District Park

It’s festival time in Wahiawa, on the theme of “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.”

Wahiawa Pineapple Festival will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at Wahiawa District Park, featuring a parade, shopping, food and all number of keiki-friendly activities.

Now in its 13th year, the May 9 festival is sponsored by Wahiawa Historical Society and serves as an economic stimulus for the town, while showcasing its unique agricultural heritage, pineapple camps and varied ethnic groups.

Led by City Council Chairman Ernie Martin, the parade along California Avenue will begin at 9 a.m. at Kaala Elementary School and move up to the park. A typical small-town affair, it’s done in Hawaiian style with drumming, Leilehua Marching Band, Iliahi Elementary’s Na Kamalii ‘O ‘Iliahi, classic cars, Miss Honolulu, churches, schools, military units and the iconic Dole Company float.

More than 40 vendors will sell a variety of craft items along with others offering fresh island fruit, kettle corn, flowers, plants and two new festival T-shirt designs. Food choices range from hot dogs to Thai, Mexican and Korean dishes.

Nonprofit organizations will man booths with information about health care, scholarships and environmental issues, while keiki can enjoy bouncers, rides, face painting, balloon animals, cotton candy and shaved ice.

The fourth annual Wahiawa Jazz Festival begins at 2 p.m.

For more information, call chairman Bob Lormond at 621-3373.