LIHU‘E — Many people were skeptical about the Kaua‘i Pride Parade being able to be pulled off Saturday along Rice Street from Vidinha Stadium to Elsie Wilcox Elementary School.
“People weren’t sure this event would’ve worked,” said Jim Gerber, owner of the Kaua‘i Beer Company, where the Garden Island Renegade Rollerz and NaPali Coasters set up a parade station for the drive-thru event. “But it looks like it’s working. It’s nice to see things like this succeed without the government getting their fingers involved. Let the people work it out for themselves.”
Hundreds if not thousands of people took to the parade route to eye 38 stations set up along the Rice Street parade route. Spectators drove their cars through the parade route and, if desired, drive through again for the 90-minute time the parade was allowed to tie up Rice Street between the Ho‘olako and ‘Umi Street intersection.
One of the groups participating was Kaua‘i Community College, which recently celebrated a successful drive-thru commencement ceremony.
“We’re coming out, a
little at a time,” said Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Margaret Sanchez. “This is just another small step in getting opened up for school in August.”
Making its way from the Westside, the Waimea Canyon Middle School Diversity Club took up a spot next to the Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity and the Wilcox Health, along with the Kaua‘i Resiliency Project that featured Nani Apalla, and the Kaua‘i High School girls volleyball players under coach Kehau Regidor that recently earned the title of champion of the Kaua‘i Youth Volleyball league on the Southshore.
Kaua‘i Pride Parade organizers said the event promotes and celebrates peace, acceptance and unity for everyone on Kaua‘i regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, religious affiliation or background.
Following a year of no in-person event, the Kaua‘i Pride Parade welcomed the return of sunshine and trade winds with its “family-friendly, loud-and-proud, drive-thru experience.”
