There are a few things you can expect in July in West Hawaii: The Kailua Kona 4th of July parade, the Rubber Duckie Race in Waikoloa, the Turtle Independence Day at the Mauna Lani, and the horse races and rodeo at Parker Ranch, all on the 4th of July! Later in the month, the Mango Festival celebrates one of Hawaii’s favorite fruits and is holding a benefit concert for the Puna lava evacuees and animals. The days are longer, the ocean is warm, and there is plenty to see and do all over the island if you are visiting.
LUVA Vacation Rentals also reminds you that we are busily booking vacation homes for Kona Ironman, coming up on October 13th, now. See what is still available on our website!
Here are some events to plan around:
Independence Day Parade
Where: Kailua Kona Village along Alli Drive
When: July 4, 2018, at 6 pm
The annual Kailua-Kona Independence Day Parade will begin at the Kekua’okalani Gym, proceed along Ali’i Drive, and finish at the Royal Kona Resort. There will be seven announcer stations throughout the parade. Check www.ParadesInKona.com for locations. The grand marshal Big Island veteran Joseph C. Palacat, Sr., received the Congressional Gold Medal in honor of his service during World War II in the Philippines Islands.
Turtle Independence Day
Where: Mauna Lani Bay Hotel
When: July 4th from 10:30 am-noon (get there at least 2 hours early for parking). Mauna Lani has been receiving juvenile honu (Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles), from Oahu’s Sea Life Park, and raising the honu in the hotel’s saltwater ponds since 1989. The honu is cared for until they grow to a size and weight that are deemed appropriate for release into the wild. This release occurs every July 4th at the ocean’s edge fronting the hotel. On July 4, 2018, the honu will be gathered at 10:30 am from the Honu Ponds and will be paraded to the beachfront for the release. A welcome ceremony with a hula performance by Halau Waiau will kick-off the event, followed by the release. There will be live entertainment, educational displays about Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles, and 4th of July fare available for purchase, including favorites from island food trucks.
27th Annual Rubber Duckie Race Benefit
Where: Waikoloa Beach Resort in Waikoloa
When: July 4, 2018
The 27thAnnual Rubber Duckie Race is a major fundraiser for the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Hawaii (UCPA). Thousands of people gather around Kings’ Lake to watch their bright yellow ducks take the plunge, and cheer them on to the finish line. Winners reward their owners with valuable prizes. To adopt a duck, call Kings’ Shops office, at 886-8811. All proceeds benefit UCPA of Hawai‘i.
At Queens’ MarketPlace, families can enjoy a fun selection of Carnival Games with prizes, balloon sculpting by Balloon Monsoon, Kohala Mountain Express, face painting, cotton candy and popcorn stands, and five different bands entertaining in the Coronation Pavilion.
4th of July Fireworks and Concert
Doors open to Waikoloa Bowl at 4:45 p.m. for music by Tomi Isobe and Friends and LT Smooth as the afternoon winds up to 8:00 p.m. when the fireworks extravaganza begins.
Beach mats or chairs are welcome for open lawn seating in Waikoloa Bowl. Drones, pets, coolers and alcoholic beverages are not permitted. This is a non-smoking event. Waikoloa Beach Resort would like to thank the Hawaii County Fire Department for co-sponsoring the community fireworks display. For more information visit www.WaikoloaBeachResort.com or call Queens’ MarketPlace office at 886-8822.
Annual July 4th Horse Races & Rodeo
Where: Parker Ranch in Waimea
When: July 4, 2018
Big Island ranchers participate in fast-paced horse races and rodeo events with Parker Ranch cowboys. Ribbon mugging, ranch mugging, dally team roping, Po’o Wai U and more. Keiki activities including roping practice and pony rides. Lots of food and mementos for sale at the Parker Ranch Store booth. Parker Ranch Rodeo Arena, Waimea. Pre-sale tickets available at the Parker Ranch Store in Waimea (at Parker Ranch Square). For more information, call 885-2323, email [email protected] or visit www.parkerranch.com.
Summer Fest at the Shops at Mauna
When: July 7, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Enjoy Summer Fest, featuring free activities including a Wave Rider water slide, rock climbing wall, bounce castle, as well as water play in the newly refurbished fountain. In addition, there will be free carnival games for young and old. Live entertainment includes music and contests with prizes emceed by DJ Ed Geer. A variety of foods will be available for purchase during the festival, including sliders and gourmet hot dogs by Tommy Bahama, vegetarian treats from Under the Bodhi Tree, Mexican foods and won-tons from the Won Ton food wagon.
Hilo Orchid Show
Where: Edith Kanaka’oke Multi-Purpose Stadium
When: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. July 13; 9 a.m.-5 p.m July 14; and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. July 15.
The Hilo Orchid Show is the largest and most comprehensive orchid show and sale in the state of Hawai’i. Orchid hybridizers have registered more than 160,000 orchid hybrids to date, with several thousand added every year. Some of the world’s top hybridizers are working on the Big Island to produce new and improved orchids. Besides orchids for sale, the show also will feature tasty, reasonably-priced food from local sources, Hawaiian musical entertainment at lunchtime and late afternoon, and there will be a Silent Auction to benefit displaced Puna residents, lectures and demonstrations throughout the day. Tickets: $5 adult, free for ages 18 and younger; $8 for three-day Superpass, $3 if purchased from Hilo Orchid Society member before the show. Visit www.hiloorchidsociety.org for more info.
10th Annual Mango Festival
Where: Hale Halawai in Kailua Kona
When: July 21, 2018 from10 am to 5 pm
The Mango Festival will honor Big Island of Hawai’i mango varieties. Featuring mango grafting, growing techniques, mango trees for sale, mango recipe preparation and sampling, Hawaiian culture and hula and entertainment. There will be a benefit concert for the Puna lava evacuees and animals from 6-10 pm with a donation of $10.
This is a zero waste event. For more information, call (808) 936-5233 or visit www.mangofest.org.
LUVA Real Estate wishes you all a very safe and sane 4th of July next week and if you are here searching for your next home, we would love to talk to you.