05-8-2011 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contacts: Lincoln Jacobe: 808.237.3676 Natalie Iwasa: the-green-one@hawaii.rr.com
The 5th annual Independence Day at Maunalua Bay Festival Join the Maunalua Communities Foundation, Hawaii Kai Towne Center and Hawaii Kai’s residents for a spectacular Fourth of July celebration at Maunalua Bay. The 5th annual Independence Day at Maunalua Bay Festival will include a Fireworks show brought to us by Grucci Hawaii at 8 p.m. and events running all day long from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Throughout the day, get engaged in 30 booths representing a mix of community civic groups, businesses and non-profits. These booths will feed your mind with educational messages, neighborhood conservation work in progress, preservation efforts and more. This year, to provide more of a cultural experience, Members of the Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association will be doing a Maunalua talk story about the history and culture of the area. Keiki will be able to help paint the life-size horse red, white and blue. At 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. the 2nd annual keiki bike parade takes place at the Keahole Street entrance to Maunalua Bay Beach Park. Keiki are invited to decorate their bikes in patriotic themes. Prizes will be awarded. Helmets are required. Registration is required with Natalie Iwasa, aka bike mom, at the-green-one@hawaii.rr.com. You can also indulge in lots of fun and tasty food and beverage booths. We will have our 2nd annual watermelon eating contest from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. and just before the Fireworks show, Hawaii Kai Keiki Hula, Ricky Hana –who has opened for Jimmy Buffett, will feed our eyes will a special feature performance. The event is an all-volunteer, grass-roots effort bringing together Hawaii Kai residents, businesses and schools in a celebration of family, friends and freedom. This event is sponsored by the non-profit Maunalua Communities Foundation, formerly Independence Day at Maunalua Bay Foundation. Other sponsorships for this event include: Bubbies, City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Koko Marina 76, Hawaii Kai Marina Community Association, Koko Marina Center, Roy’s, Outback Steakhouse and Grucci Hawaii.
Part of the mission of the Foundation is to provide scholarships for East Honolulu students. Seventy-five percent of net proceeds from the July 4 celebration go to the scholarship fund. The Foundation awarded its first three $2,000 scholarships in 2010. Parking for this event will be available off-site at Hahaione School and Kaiser High School with free shuttle service to the event courtesy of New Hope Hawaii Kai.
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