Happy 4th of July All! Today is the day for the 68th Annual Kailua 4th of July Parade and Fireworks Independence Day Celebration. Kailua has always been a great place to enjoy 4th of July activities on Oahu and is the location of the only Independence Day Parade on Oahu.
CLICK HERE FOR 2016 KAILUA FIREWORKS & PARADE INFORMATION & SCHEDULES
The Kailua festivities start with the Annual Kailua Independence Day Parade. Groups start lining up early at the North end of Kainalu Drive, at Palapu Street, near Kainalu Elementary School. The parade starts at around 10:00 and fun groups with floats, cars, music, entertainment, etc. start heading down Kainalu Drive. Set up your lawn chairs anywhere along Kainalu Street to get a good spot. You will usually see local businesses, schools, politicials, civic groups, and others participate in this exciting event that is coordinated by the Kailua Chamber of Commerce. The parade is finished by noon and ends at Kailua Middle School, where Kainalu meets Kailua Road.
After the parade, enjoy Kailua-style 4th of July BBQs and parties, or some beach time at Kailua Beach or Lanikai Beach. The perfect Kailua Independence Day ends with 4th of July Fireworks. It is my understanding that, this year, the fireworks will be set off further North, near Flag Poles, and not near Flat Island (which used to be the norm) in Kailua Bay. Kailua residents and people from all over Oahu enjoy great fireworks while sitting on the beach, watching from a rooftop or lanai, or even from a boat on the water. Some Kailua residents camp out the night before, to secure a good place on the beach, for the daytime and evening activites.
So besides being a fun day with friends and family in Kailua, what exactly is the 4th of July’s significance? We all know that July 4 is the date we recognize for Independence Day, when our founding fathers of the United States proclaimed independence from Great Britan. But is that true? But what exactly happened on this day?
The 4th of July, 1776 is not the date that the Declaration of Independence was signed (most of the signers signed on August 2, 1776). It is also not the date that the American Revolutionary War started either (this was April 1775). And the 2d Continental Congress actually voted in Phildelphia to declare independence from Great Britan on July 2, 1776.
However, July 4, 1776, is the day that the wording for the Declaration of Independence was finalized and a final draft completed. Two of the signers also signed on this day: Charles Thomson, as Secretary, and John Hancock, as President of the Continental Congress. July 4, 1776 is the date written at the top of the Declaration of Independence. The 4th of July was proclaimed a National holiday in 1838.
Enjoy Your Day and Be Safe! ~ ALOHA