Barbecuing On Tap For Bay’s July 4

Maunalua Communities Foundation will conduct its sixth annual Independence Day celebration from noon to 7 p.m. July 4 at Maunalua Bay, even as last-minute fundraising efforts appear to have fallen short on the fireworks.

The community celebration will feature Hawaii Kai’s own award-winning band, Maunalua, along with a “backyard barbecue,” hula, keiki bike parade, art projects, near-water activities, a watermelon-eating contest and much more.

For more information or to offer help, call 224-8357.

Several donors, including one with an anonymous $25,000 gift, came forward prior to the June 1 deadline on the pyrotechnics fund drive. As of press deadline, a deficit of $10,000 remained. Paying for a fireworks display, according to chairwoman Dianne Glei, would have taken 60 percent of the event’s budget.

Kaneohe Marine base’s annual BayFest also has fallen victim to budget cuts, along with fireworks plans at other military installations. Kailua’s fireworks advocates recently succeeded in raising enough revive its 2013 fireworks show off of Kailua beach.