Kaimuki Christmas Parade

We've gone to the Kaimuki Christmas Parade the last two years. The first year was the best. We got there early, took pictures with Santa (which we used for our Christmas card), watched the parade and enjoyed refreshments on the Chaminade Campus. Last year, I was six months pregnant, we got there late, and the post-parade festivities were cancelled because the heavy rains the week before prevented their setup. This year we almost missed it. I drive on Waialae Avenue practically every day and didn't see any signage announcing the parade. In fact, if we weren't on our way back from Costco on a very unusual midweek run, we would have missed it altogether.

This year we got a spot on the corner of 9th and Waialae in front of Wild Ginger and across the street from Town. It started with the decorated fire engine.


The mayor was in the parade:


Schools from the Kaimuki Area

Our friend and her daughter are in the last St. Patrick pic there.


A "lightly decorated" truck


Palolo pigs... what's that all about? Is that a school?


Some furry, four-legged marchers


Marines for Toys for Tots


An electric vehicle


I think the sign said this was the Grand Marshal of the Parade


I think these kids had sweeter rides than the Grand Marshal


The Baton people were festive, but the little girls looked like they were pooped by the time they got to us.


The Ghosts of Kaimuki. Just kidding. I had the camera on the night setting, but they were moving too fast for it, so they look like ghosts.

Beauty Queens


Girl Scouts


And other colorful characters


There was Santa Claus at the end, but my baby got fussy and wanted to be fed, so I had to relinquish my photographer duties.

We enjoyed the parade. Thank you to the Kaimuki schools and businesses that participated. A couple of suggestions for next year, though... 

1.  Advertise better. Put banners alond the fences of all the schools along the parade route.  Or  better yet, have all the participants of the parade promote it at their place of business. 

2.  Start the parade with a band or a loud sound system on the first vehicle so we can hear the beginning of the parade before it gets to us.  It's like saying "Let's get this party started!"

3.  Groups should wear a uniform or a group t-shirt... or at the very least, be color-coordinated. I know they are volunteers and can't be asked to buy a shirt and give their time, but it sure helps to know who is in what group in a parade.

4.  Remind us to bring a toy for the Toys for Tots truck.  Let us give back too!