Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade

Monday, January 20, 2020

Parades are fun and easy to attend when staying at the Four Paddle, only two blocks off the parade route.   Parades typically march southeast down the one-way street, Kalakaua Avenue.   The parade wasn’t mentioned in any of the tourist books and pamphlets available in Waikiki.  One would expect tourists would want to know if getting in and out of Waikiki would become impossible for hours.

No Parking Sign For Martin Luther King Jr. Parade
No Parking Sign For Martin Luther King Jr. Parade

It was the no parking signs standing sentinel on each of the side-streets connecting Kuhio to Kalakaua that caught my attention.  Then the Internet revealed the start time and route.  See the Hawaii Martin Luther King Jr. Coalition website.

Royal Hawaiian Band Marching On Kalakaua Avenue
Royal Hawaiian Band Marching On Kalakaua Avenue

Assuming this parade would be similar to previous experience with parades down Kalakaua Avenue, I was a little disappointed at the end that there were only two marching bands.

Rainbow Over The Parade Route
Rainbow Over The Parade Route

Looking northwest up Kalakaua Avenue before the parade started, there was  a beautiful rainbow above the parade route.  Would this be a rainbow themed parade?

Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Parade
Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Parade

Churches and other religious organizations marched in the parade.

MKL Day Parade Grand Marshal
MKL Day Parade Grand Marshal

There was an official grand marshal riding atop a fancy new Corvette.

Marching Union Members
Marching Union Members

Labor unions marched in the parade.

Local Organizers For Presidential Candidates Marching
Local Organizers For Presidential Candidates Marching

Andrew Yang, Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg supporters marched for social justice, fair wages and healthcare for all.

Marching For The 2020 US Census
Marching For The 2020 US Census

The 2020 Census joined the parade.

Marching County Democrats
Marching County Democrats

Local county democrats marched.

Mayoral Candidate Marching With Supporters
Mayoral Candidate Marching With Supporters

Mayoral candidate marched with supporters.

University Student Organization Marchers
University Student Organization Marchers

University students came to march for Dr. King.

Local Schools Marching
Local Schools Marching

Local schools marched for peace and justice.

Marching Sorority
Marching Sorority

Sororities and Fraternities marched in the parade.

Marching State Workers
Marching State Workers

State workers from the Civil Rights Commission and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission marched.

LBGTQ Marchers
LBGTQ Marchers

LBGTQ groups marched in the parade.

Marching Teachers
Marching Teachers

Two different teacher groups marched.

Girls On Unicycles
Girls On Unicycles

Girls on unicycles rolled down the parade route.  Their organizational affiliations weren’t clear.

Marching Sanitation Workers
Marching Sanitation Workers

If there had been an award for the best float, I’m sure the sanitation workers would have cleaned up!

Marching Sanitation Workers
Marching Sanitation Workers

Appropriately, The Bus celebrated Rosa Parks, a true here of the civil rights movement.

Hari Krishna Marchers
Hari Krishna Marchers

The last marchers were Hari Krishnas haunted by drum thumps and bell clangs.

Kalakaua Avenue Opening Up Behind The Last Marchers
Kalakaua Avenue Opening Up Behind The Last Marchers

In the end, Kalakaua reopened and traffic once again flowed.

Hope to see you on the road ahead.

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