Christmas Parade

Yesterday evening ke Kula ʻo Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu, the Hawaiian immersion school, gathered in Keaʻau on Big Island to open up the Christmas Parade. Our meet-up time was at 4:30 pm, 1 hour before performance, and the area was packed! I thought I could find a parking spot in the general parking lot in front of the grocery stores, however I was out of luck.

I drove up the road a short way and was able to get a nice spot. Walking down to meet the rest of the school I saw the road blocked off, police officers helping with traffic, and our school dressed in red t-shirts and festive garland leis. To open the parade, we stood facing the crowd in the middle of the road and handed out small booklets with words to our Hawaiian Christmas songs. It's so great to hear Hawaiian in the community and to be able to share that with the world. Mele Kalikimaka! (Merry Christmas).