Martin Luther King Jr. Day, celebrated in memory of the civil rights leader whose vision touched a nation's conscience, should be more than a time of reflection for blacks, said the Hawai'i chapter president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

"We continue in our struggle to gain and maintain freedom and civil rights for all persons of color, whether they are white, black, brown, yellow or other genders," NCAAP-Hawai'i president Alphonso Braggs said.

"We are very unique among the 2,200 NAACP branches," Braggs noted of Hawai'i's diversity, "and I feel we best exemplify Dr. King's dream."

In Hawai'i, Martin Luther King Day activities are held with observance by Native Hawaiian groups of the 1893 overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy.

Vicky Holt Takamine of Ilio'ulaokalani, a grass-roots organization for Native Hawaiian rights, said there are no formal plans to salute the monarchy during the 18th annual Martin Luther King Day parade. "But we would encourage Hawaiians to march in the parade to participate in tribute of both Martin Luther King and Queen Lili'uokalani, who advocated for peaceful resolution to issues facing their people," Takamine said.

Lynnette Cruz of Living Nation added, "Martin Luther King had two messages. One was about resisting and raising the issue of justice, not only for black people but all people. The second was celebrating black people culture. In that way, we can relate. It's a time when we can reflect and see how far we've come. I think we need to move away only from resisting change and move on because we have a nation to build."

The parade will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the late Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat to a white man on a city bus in Montgomery, Ala., which touched off the civil rights movement. Parks died in October. An empty city bus will be in the parade in honor of Parks.

The theme of observance of the overthrow of the monarchy is "Hawai'i Loa Kulike Kakou, All Hawai'i Come Together."

"As Hawaiians, we gather in support of our beloved Queen, Lili'uokalani," said Mel Kalahiki, Living Nation's chairman. "We maintain her legacy, the dignity and righteousness of our nation, our lands and our people."

Reach Rod Ohira at rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.