We designed the float to include our Kai and Friends children’s book characters — marine creatures that fit perfectly with this year’s festival theme: “No Ke Kai Kākou Ē.” A phrase meaning “We Are of the Sea,” the theme celebrated “the seas and oceans that have shaped these islands and the many people who call them home,” according to the Aloha Festivals website.

Our mākua and keiki loved seeing the many colorful and elaborate floats, especially the horses with the costumed paʻu riders at the end of the route. PIDF staff assisted in every aspect of the day to ensure everything ran smoothly for our families, from preparing the float early that morning to the lunch hand-out and clean up that afternoon.

“This is probably the hottest parade we’ve ever done,” said Crystal Mariñas, PIDF’s accounting manager. She was one of several staff in the parade, passing out school supplies and helping to get the crowds going to cheer on the keiki as they sang songs on the trolley. By the end of the three-hour parade everyone was tired, but spirits were high and even Kai and his friends made it to the end.

Kai the ʻOpihi (mollusk), Mele the Crab, Pili the ʻIwa Bird, Noa the Puhi (eel), Holu the Heʻe (octopus), and Moana the Honu (green sea turtle) are all characters in our children’s book series co-authored by our president, Jan Dill. All six characters were featured on our float. In the books each marine creature confronts real life challenges, such as bullying. Each goes to their elders for help and guidance. The stories encourage children and their families to recognize the power and importance of inter-generational wisdom and traditional Hawaiian values.

This year’s theme was “He Lei Aloha Ke Keiki,” “Children are Our Garland of Love.” This theme is such a prime statement of what we are and who we serve. The hand prints around the trolley are of the keiki participants of Ka Paʻalana, Tūtū and Me Oʻahu, and Nā Pono program.

There were many that came out to help us celebrate this festive event. Families of staff and some programs were able to sit and represent us in the trolley while staff walked the parade handing out gifts to on lookers. Our gifts and aloha was well received by the crowd. They cheered us on as we “danced” to the Tūtū and Me songs.

Mahalo nō to the many many people that had given of their time, talents, and sweat. Ke Kama Pono, thank you for the ono food at the end of the parade and drinks, to the many staff members who took the time to cut down and donate foliage and greenery for the trolley, to all the staff who assisted in getting hand prints, to the Tūtū and Me Oʻahu staff for walking and assisting in the prep of the parade. Thank you to the Communications team and John Delisio for all the pictures.

Mahalo to everyone for making PIDF the great organization that we are and representing us well.

In keeping with the festival theme “Hula: Let the Story Be Told”, we took a page out of the children’s book “Kai the Opihi” co-authored by PIDF President Jan E. Hanohano Dill, his wife Judy, and Tūtū and Me Director of Research Gail Omoto. Gail’s very talented husband Garrett Omoto illustrated this colorful edition.

The project was an ambitious one, and took many hands under the creative direction of Patrick Izon, husband of PIDF employee Patti. The main characters of “Kai the Opihi” took shape one by one, and came to life with the application of flowers, leaves, rice kernels and all other manner of foilage and “once were alive” medium, as is laid out by the rules of the parade coordinators. A reef was built, and waves were added to round out the ocean scene consistent with the storyline.

Youngsters from our Kama‘ehu youth program rode onboard the float, telling the story through the “hula noho” or sitting hula dance while a bubble machine added to the underwater effect. Watching over them was their “Tūtū” or grandmother, played by employee Sheree Sakai.

Marching out front and along side our float were employees from PIDF’s different programs such as Tūtū and Me, Nā Pono No Nā ‘Ohana, Ka Pa‘alana, and more.

By the reaction from the crowd our “Kai the Opihi” float was a huge success, and deserved of the President’s Award. Congratulations to all!