America's bloodiest day
Some Aloha Festivals events canceled

By Adrienne Ancheta
Advertiser Staff Writer

In observance of today's designation as a national day of mourning, the Aloha Festivals opening ceremony at 'Iolani Palace has been canceled and the Downtown Ho'olaule'a has been postponed. Both had been scheduled to take place today.

•	For more information on the Aloha Festivals, call 589-1771 on O'ahu or 1-800-852-7690 on the Neighbor Islands.

Cancellations of the bed-race segment of the Honolulu International Bed Race tomorrow and the Mrs. America Fashion Show on Sunday were announced earlier.

Still on schedule are tomorrow's Floral Parade along Kalakaua Avenue, which will begin at 9 a.m. and end at 1 p.m., and the Family Fun Day at Kapi'olani Park from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

"The parade is more representative of who we are and will show our support and solidarity in what we believe in," said Aloha Festivals executive director Janet Hyrne. The parade also will give Hawai'i residents a chance to show support for the military, which will have a presence at the parade through its marching band, Hyrne said.

In a show of patriotism, participants will wear red, white and blue ribbons in addition to their Aloha Festivals ribbons. The parade starts at Hobron Lane and ends at Kapi'olani Park.

Aloha Festivals events on the Neighbor Islands have not been altered except for the Sam Choy Poke Contest. The Big Island contest, originally scheduled for Sept. 14 to 16 Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, has been postponed until Dec. 8 because many contestants are from the Mainland and Neighbor Islands.

The Aloha Festivals organization is trying to maintain routine life as much as possible, as requested by government officials despite Tuesday's catastrophes, Hyrne said.

"People are so saddened, it might be difficult for people to be in the mood to celebrate," Hyrne said. "Continuing with our normal lives does not take away the fact that we have sadness in our hearts."

Although other Aloha Festivals events are expected to go on as originally scheduled, changes are possible. They include:

• Sept. 21 — Waikiki Ho'olaule'a, 7 to 10:30 p.m.o n Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki

• Sept. 29 — Hilo Ho'olaule'a, 4 to 11 p.m., Front Street, Hilo; Lana'i Ho'olaule'a, 5 to 10 p.m., Dole Park; Moloka'i Ho'olaule'a, 11 a.m., Mitchell Pau'ole Center