‘No Kings’ rally in Hilo draws 2,500 as part of nationwide protest of Trump and his administration

An estimated 2,500 East Hawaiʻi residents and visitors lined both side of Kamehameha Avenue in Hilo on Saturday in one of the many “No Kings” demonstrations held across the country to protest President Trump and his Administration.

The protests in the state, led by Indivisible Hawai’i Statewide Network, have branded the statewide protest “No Dictators,” out of respect for Hawaiʻi’s history of aliʻi (chiefs and kings).

Similar protests were scheduled in Kona, Waimea and Na‘alehu on the Big Island.

The local participants joined an estimated 7 million Americans at about 2,700 protests in one of the larger single-day nationwide demonstrations in U.S. history.

Leading up to Saturday, many Republican leaders, including U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson labeled the planned demonstrations as “hate America rallies.” But organizers and participants of “No Kings” say they are protesting a federal government they see as quickly moving into authoritarianism under Trump.

Trump spent Saturday at his Florida home, Mar-A-Lago, according to the Associated Press. But a social media account by the Trump campaign made fun of the protests by posting a computer-generated video of the president wearing a crown and monarch clothing, while waving from a balcony.

Near Hiloʻs bay front, the peaceful protesters waved American flags and homemade signs advocating for democracy. One read: “Hands off – Free speech, Free Press, Equal Rights, National Parks, the Courts and Social Security.”

Many dressed up in costumes, including one person who wore a frog suit with a sign that said “Amphifa, frogs against facism.”

Traffic was steady as drivers honked and slowed to throw shakas and read signs.

It was the third mass mobilization since Trump’s return to the White House.

This protest comes during a government shutdown that has become a battle primarily over health care for millions of Americans.

“There was so much energy, hope and excitement,” said Terry McDonald, Indivisible Hilo One facilitator and event organizer in a press release. “This is just one tactic. We’re in it for the long-haul. There’s a long time to elections. Indivisible is working on organizing one-million activists. This is just one way of inviting more into the process.” 

Lahi Verschuur, media lead for the Hilo event, said: “President Trump has openly said he wants a third term and has been acting like a monarch since he took office. Our goal today was to show that the people are continuing to take action to stop the cruelty, corruption and power grab and we did that.”

Indivisible.org is the primary organizer of the national event while indivisiblehawaii.org is the statewide organizer that named the event “No Dictators” in Hawaii.

Indivisible Hilo One is a non-partisan, pro-democracy organization dedicated to upholding the rule of law, ensuring free and fair elections, and respecting the dignity of all people, according to its press release. Organizer Terry McDonald can be reached at terry@indivisiblehiloone.org or 704-390-6221.