Kailua’s Ready To Throw July 4 Party

Thanks to early and late donors, merchants and volunteers, Kailua town is prepared for a full-on Independence Day celebration July 4, from its parade at 10 a.m. to the fireworks at 8 p.m.

Grand marshal Terry George will lead the 67th annual march down Kainalu Drive, from Palapu Street to Kailua Intermediate School, with all units displaying the red, white and blue on the theme of “True Blue Kailua.” Judges stand is at St. Christopher’s Church. Sponsored by Kailua Chamber of Commerce, the event has bands, floats, horse units, schools and senior groups, military and veteran marchers, politicians and other dignitaries. For more information, call 261-7997.

Hawaii Bone Marrow Registry will man a booth from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at KIS for the parade crowds to sign up as donors.

At Kailua Beach Park, meanwhile, the finally financed fireworks display will be preceded at 6 p.m. by another community tradition, a 30-minute air show – the 12th for Kailua by local master pilots Clint Churchill (in his Extra 300L) and Hank Bruckner (CAP-10C) – will showcase daring, high-flying stunts. Fireworks chairwoman Jana Holden said she welcomes the aerobatics, even though her committee couldn’t add the show to their limited permit this year.

Holden also advises fans of the evening events to park at Kailua Intermediate, or Kailua and Aikahi elementary schools, and then walk down to the beach. Both the air show and fireworks should be visible along the entire stretch of the shoreline park. Theme is “car pool or walk.”

Event T-shirts are on sale for $20 from Holden (478-5230) or from Donna Festa at Lanikai General Store. Proceeds will go into the 2014 fireworks fund. For more information, visit kailuafireworks.com.