March 10th – Honolulu Festival Parade

The D50 Lions marched in the Honolulu Festival Grand parade along Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki on Sunday, March 10. The Lions were among the 61 groups that participated in this annual cultural event, promoting mutual understanding, economic cooperation, and ethnic harmony between the people of Hawaii and the Pacific Rim region.

The Lions marched in their Lion vests while the other groups representing Japan, Australia, Tahiti, the Philippines, Taiwan, South Korea, Hawaii, and the mainland United States were dressed in attire representing their country. The 4 Hawaii Kai Lions marching in the parade were Cynthia Chun, Marty Jorgensen, Marja Leivo, and Ellsworth Fujii.

There were shouts of “Thank you, Lions” from the thousands of spectators that packed Kalakaua Avenue from Fort DeRussey to Kapiolani Park. It was nice to hear the spectators cheering for the Lions as they marched on a cool windy overcast afternoon. This year, the Lions only marched once unlike last year where some of us had to do it a second time as we were asked to dance with a Japan group at the end of the parade.