East O'ahu residents — from Niu Valley to Portlock, from Kuli'ou'ou to Hawai'i Kai, from Koko Kai to Kalama Valley — will not have to trek across town to see Fourth of July fireworks this year. There will be an aerial display in their front yard — well, offshore.

The Independence Day at Maunalua Bay Foundation, organized last year, will launch its first homegrown Independence Day celebration at Maunalua Bay, on the waterfront opposite Roy's Hawai'i Kai and Outback Steakhouse restaurants.

The day's theme will be "Celebration of Friends, Family and Freedom," said Cha Thompson, a 35-year resident of Portlock and chairwoman for the event. She noted that the foundation has so far raised $50,000, about $3,000 short of its goal.

A performers' stage will be erected and a row of vendors will be set up in a shorefront area that can accommodate a crowd of about 1,000. Those attending should bring mats to sit on. The larger park area will also be open for viewing the 15-minute aerial fireworks display by Grucci.

Thompson enlisted her longtime friend, Noah Parker, a Mariners Cove resident for four decades, to kokua.

Together, the former Farrington High School graduates have tapped community and business resources to mount the effort to bring a bit of holiday dazzle for the area. It's been a good fit.

Parker said: "Because of my more than 35 years experience organizing community service events (including Christmas parades in Hawai'i Kai) and my friendship and respect for Cha and her husband, Jack (Tihati), I thought I could be of value to her and the vision of the organizing committee."

With Thompson's ties to Tihati Productions — one of the state's largest producers of Polynesian extravaganzas, convention shows and themed events at municipal facilities — the pair is making good on a commitment to bring the Hawai'i Kai and neighboring communities together.

A committee organized included John Tilton, a veteran Tihati executive who now is a part-time employee because he devotes much of his energies to the New Hope Hawai'i Kai Church, where he is a pastor. Because of his Tihati ties, he knows all about rounding up talent as well as organizing manpower and services.

So, New Hope will provide free shuttle bus service to the event from three parking sites — Kaiser High School, a designated section of the nearby Hawaii Kai Towne Center, and the Kiss and Ride lot on Keahole Street.

Four to eight shuttle buses, each capable of carrying 30 passengers, will run continuously between 2 and 9 p.m., depending on need — with drop-off and boarding at the party site, across from Roy's at the end of Keahole Street.

Henry Kapono tops the roster of performers on the music stage. After his performance, Jonathan Von Brana, an Elvis Presley impersonator from the "Stars in Concert Hawaii" show at the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani hotel's Ainahau Showroom, will render The King's "American Trilogy" medley just before the launch of the fireworks. Hawai'i Kai residents Kim Gennaula and Guy Hagi of KGMB 9 will serve as emcees.

Outback Steakhouse, which held a drive-through steak sale that raised $8,250 for the event, will host another fundraiser by making 11 outside tables available. Tables of four will go for $100 (tax deductible), with diners paying the premium plus the meal charges. Three are already reserved for prime viewing.

Among other activities: