A voice from the sea of spectators on Rice Street cried out, “It’s moving!”
Sure enough, the unattended wheelchair started its uncontrolled roll on Friday before being caught in the folds of the Southwest Airlines banner that followed the wheelchair unit during the Rotary Club of Kaua‘i Lights on Rice holiday parade, which unofficially announced the dissipation of the Kona low pressure that drenched the island with rain earlier in the week.
More than 60 participating parade units, including a huge and brilliantly lit, music-blaring Walmart float that honored its late manager Diane Keeler. At least 3,000 participating marchers jammed the approximately 1 mile parade route.
“They’re not all in order,” said Rotary Past District Governor Laurie Yoshida, who collected parade float identification with parade chair Ryan Fussell, who juggled managing the parade and helping with the Kapa‘a High School and Waimea High School JROTC units.
The units walked the route rimmed with thousands of spectators, who cheered, clapped their hands and occasionally screamed loud enough to be heard over the symphony of holiday music.
Arnold Leong and Daniel Kawamura, of the participating Kawamura Farms float, busily studied the heavy clouds that veiled the parade following a day of blustery weather. The pair were putting finishing touches on the float, which included several visitors from Idaho who were thrilled to be invited to share the float with the Kawamura ‘ohana.
“Nah. It’s going to blow away,” said Leong as patches of blue sky pierced the heavy overcast. “Look. The wind’s blowing the clouds out over the ocean.”
True to the pair’s prediction, the Lights on Rice parade, which was voted “Best Event” by TGI readers in 2021 and 2022, unfolded under a colorful sunset to an audience that Yoshida said, “Everyone’s been waiting for this!”
Presented by the Rotary Club of Kaua‘i, the Lights on Rice holiday parade got major support from Corteva Agriscience, the Pacific Media Group, the U.S. Army, Star 94.3 and the County of Kaua‘i.
