Malu 'Aina

Press Release:  Malu Aina denied  “Malama Honua — Care for the Earth” entry into Kona July 4th parade

further contact: Jim Albertini 966-7622

Malu Aina president, Jim  Albertini, received a phone call on Wednesday, June 29 from Dr. Koop 331-8191 of the Kailua-Kona Parade Association, saying that our “Malama Honua –Care for the Earth” entry application filed on June 16 would not be allowed in the parade.  He was concerned that our entry theme “Malama Hona — for people, plants and animals, for the love of the ‘aina and the moana — Protect Mauna Kea! Protect Pohakuloa! Aloha ‘Aina” was not in keeping with the Independence celebration family event.  He was particularly concerned that someone in our estimated 50-100 contingent might carry “an upside down Hawaiian flag” as a symbol of distress and that any banner that said “Stop Bombing Hawaii” in light of ongoing RIMPAC exercises might be offensive.

Albertini said “it’s a sad day when a celebration of American Independence and revolution is so controlled that even raising modest community concerns about protecting Hawaii and our world in a respectful way are kept out of the parade. Furthermore, keeping us out of the parade may in fact be illegal since the parade is being organized out of “the Mayor’s office at the West Hawaii Civic Center” and it appears county personnel, and therefore county funds, are involved.  Those of us wanting to express support for ‘Malama Honua’  and protecting Mauna Kea and Pohakuloa are a part of this county too.”

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