Visitors and veterans line Floral Parade

By Will Hoover
Advertiser Staff Writer

Luka Ramos, a princess of O'ahu, waved to thousands who attended yesterday's parade commemorating the legacy of King Kamehameha. Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser

Yesterday's 87th annual parade was no exception.

"Nanea has been to every King Kamehameha Floral Parade since she's been alive," "Uncle Joe" Keaulana said of his dog, a dark brown half springer spaniel, half sharpei pooch. "That's five years. She loves every part of them, especially the horses."

They watched the parade from the shade of a palm tree at the corner of King and Richards streets. Nanea was decked out in a purple studded collar, pink nails and natural tufts of silver fur between each toe.

"She woke us up at 6 a.m. and said, 'Hey, we've got to get going,'" quipped parade public-address narrator Kimo Alama Keaulana, the dog's co-owner. "She was extra excited to get to the parade this morning because her auntie, Beverly Lee, is this year's Pa'u Queen."

Eileen Estenzo dances on the Hawaiian Airlines float at the parade. Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser

"We may not have the volume that we've had in the past," said parade chairwoman Candace Lee, who noted that contributions had dropped, probably because of the poor economy.

But lack of money could not curtail enthusiasm.

"Last year's parade finished at 12:30 p.m., and we started on this one at 12:31," she said.

By the time the parade reached Kalakaua Avenue and the sun had come out in full force, things were as raucous as ever.

Even folks who aren't usually parade aficionados got caught up in the passing waves of music, dance, flora and traditional attire.

"I've never even been to our own little parade," said Bob Salicdo of Hacienda Heights, Calif., a 10-minute drive from Pasadena. "That's called the Rose Parade. But this is really great."

Nearby, Margaret Caine ("No relation to Michael," she said) of Ford Houses, England, said she came to Waikiki in April to celebrate her divorce after 28 years of marriage, fell in love with Hawai'i and couldn't wait to return.

"I came back to do another three weeks because I just love the place," said Caine, 50. "Everybody here is absolutely friendly, and now, to see this parade and all this culture ... Oh my god, just look at this!"

Caine gasped when she caught a glimpse of Mayor Jeremy Harris waving to the crowd. But it wasn't the mayor who took her breath away. It was the the 1950 ivory- and burgundy-colored, English-made Riley convertible in which he was riding.

The classy vehicle, which resembles a shortened Rolls Royce, has accommodated numerous VIPs over the years, including Bob Hope and his wife Dolores, said the car's owner and driver Arthur "Tuffy" Medeiros.

By the time it was all over, parade participants and spectators alike were dancing in the street.

Honolulu firefighters Gary Viela, Ron Yoshimoto and Keoni Abaya brought up the rear of the parade procession in Engine No. 1.

Yoshimoto said the engine could be quickly called into action if it were needed.