‘Celebrate Service’: Aloha, music, community spirit to once again take center stage at annual Hawaiʻi Island Veterans Day Parade
Flags waving. Bands playing. Aircraft flying overhead. Keiki cheering alongside kūpuna as friends, neighbors and community organizations make their way through downtown Hilo.
The Hawaiʻi Island Veterans Day Parade returns for its 19th installment at 10 a.m. Nov. 7 in downtown Hilo, and the entire community is invited to come down to bayfront and enjoy a morning of music, celebration, discovery, and to see what makes Hawaiʻi Island such a special place to serve.
This year’s theme “Celebrate Service” brings the parade’s purpose to life; honoring military veterans and their families while celebrating the many people and organizations who care for the island community every day.
Registration is open now online through Oct. 30. Groups registering after the deadline will march at the end of the parade, and announcers might not have information available to introduce them.
Registering on time also helps organizers share each group’s story along the route — because behind every group is definitely a story.
Some serve the nation. Others support families, care for kūpuna, mentor young people, help neighbors through difficult times or bring people together through music, culture and community projects.
The parade gives spectators a chance to greet the people living and telling those stories with a wave, a cheer and heartfelt mahalo — perhaps also discover for themselves a new way to serve their neighbors and wider community.
Past parades featured school marching bands, Hawaiʻi County Band, Taishoji Taiko drummers, horse riders, motorcycles, military representatives, veterans groups and community floats. The variety reflects the island itself: people with different backgrounds and talents coming together with aloha and a shared commitment to others.
It’s also a chance to have fun together, so bring the entire ʻohana, find a spot along the route and enjoy the sights and sounds of a time-honored Hilo tradition.
Aircraft will fly overhead, adding excitement above the celebration unfolding in the streets.
“Together, we can inspire the next generation to lead with heart and service,” said Hawaiʻi Island Veterans Day Parade Chairperson Col. Deb Lewis before the 2025 parade.
Lewis encourages veterans organizations, schools, bands, clubs, businesses, nonprofits, civic groups, public officials and other community members to participate, whether marching, riding or creating a float.
Each group has an opportunity to share its contributions and help the community learn more about its work.
The parade begins on Piʻopiʻo Street near Wailoa River State Recreation Area, heads mauka on Pauahi Street, turns right onto Kīlauea Avenue and continues onto Keawe Street. It then turns right onto Waiānuenue Avenue and right onto Kamehameha Avenue before returning to the starting area.
An all-volunteer committee organizes the event, supported by local businesses, individual donors and volunteers. Their contributions are part of the very spirit the parade celebrates: people giving their time, talents and resources to make something meaningful possible for others.
So mark your calendars now to come cheer, connect and discover the many ways service strengthens the Big Island — and enjoy a family morning filled with aloha.
Visit the Hawaiʻi Island Veterans Day Parade website or email to support@hivetparade.org for additional information or any questions about registration, volunteer opportunities, sponsorship and more.
