Hawaiians, blacks unite at King parade
By Vicki Viotti
Advertiser Staff Writer
The queen's portrait hung next to that of a King. In this case, the pair were separated by time and space — though they both labored peacefully for the rights of their people, said Mel Kalahiki.
Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser
"We have the same dream," said Kalahiki, who helps organize the yearly "Onipa'a" anniversaries of the Hawaiian kingdom overthrow. "We dream someday that the U.S., with all their might, is going to say, 'Justice is not done.' "
Malcolm Tuitt, of Waikiki, and his son, Jonathan, 4, attended the rally at Kapi'olani Park that followed Honolulu's annual parade honoring Martin Luther King Jr.
Kalahiki was waiting at Ala Moana Park to join yesterday's Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade, which this year occurred on the same day as the Hawaiian observance. That's why the occasion — a parade through Waikiki and a "unity rally" at Kapi'olani Park — was a shared presentation and blended the themes of civil rights and Hawaiian sovereignty activism.
The parade halted at the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center for a ceremony of chants and hula that honored Queen Lili'uokalani, fronting easels bearing portraits of the queen and the Rev. King. Kumu hula Vicky Holt Takamine smiled at the observation that the queen's portrait sat a little higher off the ground than King's.
"Well, it just so happened!" she said with a wry laugh. "What can I say?"
Those lei-draped portraits were presented to Patricia Anthony and Marsha Joyner, representing the parade sponsoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Coalition-Hawai'i, who carried them the rest of the way to the park.
Nearby marched a man identifying himself as Manukihapai and wearing a traditional kihei cloak. He chanted in a style that employed a raspy trill that left tourist spectators looking puzzled.
In Hawai'i, the holiday that honors the late civil-rights leader traditionally reflects the Islands' multiethnic population, and a rainbow of cultural and political groups appeared for the parade. Former Congressman Tom Gill rode in one car bearing a placard identifying him as an author of Title 6 of the Civil Rights Act.
Marching units ranging from the local Prince Hall Masonic lodges, a branch of the Masons founded by African-Americans, followed the same route as the International Society of Krishna Consciousness; a van emblazoned with the Web address for the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform joined the train with military bands and anti-military protest groups.
Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser
"There is something unique about the Hawai'i parade," said Ervin Hendrix, one of the Masons. "The combination of nationalities ... it's more diversified than on the Mainland."
Members of several African-American fraternities and sororities joined the Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade down Kalakaua Avenue.
But there was a strong presence from Hawai'i's African-American community, which has worked to raise the profile of the King celebration each year. At the park, the Hickam and Trinity Gospel Choirs shook the bandstand stage, while a teen troupe from Trinity Missionary Baptist Church exhibited their mastery of "stepping," a performance style popularized by sorority groups.
On the parade route, Harold Jones of Manoa sat at Kuhio Beach. Jones has turned out for the event for the past 10 years.
"It's important," he said. "It's an African-American holiday, the only one we got. I take full advantage of it.
"I'll tell you one thing," Jones added. "I don't care what job I've got, I will not work on this holiday. They'd have to fire me."
A few yards away, Utah tourist Juanita Rasmussen watched the color guard troop by, holding her hand over her heart.
"I think we need to be more patriotic, show that we're proud of the ones who defend our country," she said.
She acknowledged the range of political views that paraded past her, however. "Everybody has their opinion," she said.
As if to illustrate that point, onlooker Maurice Lucas stood near the parade terminus, sporting a "Violence Is Immoral" T-shirt that displayed the face of the civil-rights leader. And nearby, Manukihapai was greeting all the footsore participants, who cheerfully waved back.
"Mahalo," he said, as a military band passed. "Nonviolence is what we say, and disarmament. Aloha. We have only aloha here."
Reach Vicki Viotti at vviotti@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8053.
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Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser
Al Neal, left, and Puni Nihipali watch the Martin Luther King Jr. parade on its way down Kalakaua Avenue.
