Galdeiras To Lead March On Saturday
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The Waimanalo Christmas Parade gets under way at 10 a.m. Saturday with floats, marching units, bands, pa’u riders in full dress, Santa Claus and plenty of trucks.
The annual march, on the theme “Aloha to our Military,” will shut down Kalanianaole Highway for two hours, as it travels from Waimanalo District Park to Waimanalo Beach Park. Among the participants are the Royal Hawaiian Band, Mayor Mufi Hannemann, area lawmakers, military units and color guard, the Yokozuna Riders and the city’s No. 1 firetruck.
“We have the old cars and some of the different clubs who come with their trucks - each year it’s getting better,” said grand marshal Bobby Galdeira. Besides coordinating the lineup and juggling Santa’s visit, he says getting enough candy (for good little girls and boys) is also big priority.“All we ask for with donations is candy.”
Galdeira was born and raised in Waimanalo and has been involved with the event since it began nine years ago. But the parade bug first bit him back in 1948 when he rode as a banner boy in the Aloha Week Festival. He’s also been an escort, unit marshal and pa’u marshal for the festival, as well as pa’u marshal in the 1990 Kamehameha Day Parade.
“When they picked me as a grand marshal for the Waimanalo Christmas parade I was surprised,” he admitted, “but they already had it planned.” He and wife Rose will lead the annual march, which is coordinated by the Waimanalo Construction Coalition and sponsored by Bad Boyz Trucking.
The parade has additional help from Shima’s Market, Kuni’s Automotive, Waimanalo Feed Supply, Norman Texeira, Mat Hawaii, Friends of Waimanalo and others. Also participating: Turk Cazimero, Kemoo Farm, DHL Trucking, Royal Hawaiian Movers and Kong’s Enterprises. John Aguiar designed the Santa float.
As usual, said Andrew Jamila of the construction coalition, parade day is marked by neighbors helping neighbors. Keneke’s Catering, Rocky Road Products, the Friends of Waimanalo and Rodney and Audrey Chang are in charge of the “after party” at the beach park, where they plan to serve 1,000 hot dogs and buns. Harbor House is providing pastries.
Announcers will be Patty Teruya, Sheryl Turbeville and George Tootoo.
Jamila, a disabled Army veteran, said the parade will be videotaped for ‘Olelo Community Television, and they hope to send copies to the troops overseas.
For more information, or to offer help, call Jamila at 690-2443.
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