Some waved flags as they watched the Castle High School marching band perform "God Bless America." One marching unit held a banner reading "in remembrance of 9/11." Junior ROTC groups representing all branches of the military marched in the tropical heat to cheering crowds.

"I had an uncle that was in New York that day, so it does mean something extra to me," said Christine Slavin, 17, a member of the Radford High School JROTC. "Doing this is showing my pride for my country."

Melanie Leonard, 17, also with the uniformed Radford unit, said: "We are showing our patriotism by being out here."

Don Arakaki, the JROTC instructor at Wai'anae High School, brought 52 students to the parade and said holding the event on this third anniversary of the attacks is appropriate because it shows that terrorists cannot change our way of life.

"We can't back off and live in a state of fear," Arakaki said. "Life goes on and we have to think positive and continue to march for our freedom, maintaining the values and keep our country strong."

Raina Tomiyasu, 3, has a curbside seat to view the Aloha Festivals Floral Parade with her mother, Bertha Tomiyasu, as units of the Mililani Trojans marching band pass by along Ala Moana. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

Canadian Ernie Friesen, here on his honeymoon, took in the parade with his bride and found the floats most impressive. "Flowers are such an important part of everything here," he said.

Leora Colley lives near Kapi'olani Park and walked to the event. She is an enthusiastic supporter of the parade, which has been forced to cut back in recent years because of the lingering effects of a down economy and so-so ribbon sales that help support the festivals.

"I buy bunches of ribbons," Colley said.

After the parade, pa'u rider Napualani Nicolas said it's important to continue with this tradition because it gives so much to spectators as well as the thousands of volunteers who help put it on.

"They came all the way down here to watch and they had a good show," Nicolas said. "I get chicken skin when you hear them clapping. It's a Hawai'i thing. Tradition. The aloha spirit. What if there wasn't any parade? They can't see flowers like this anywhere else."

Each pa'u rider wore a velvet kipola — much like a long cape — in the color of the island she represented. The pa'u, or long skirt, was originally worn to protect women's dresses from the dust of horseback riding.

Aloha Festivals celebrates Hawai'i's heritage and culture with pageantry, parades, street parties, concerts and family activities that span six islands and six weeks during September and October. The annual festival is presented by Hawaiian Airlines, whose corporate sponsorship provides a primary source of money to pay the cost of the free events and activities statewide.

A ho'olaule'a, or get-together for a celebration, will be held Friday in Waikiki.