By Barry Villamil
Mahalo to everyone who participated in the 2024 Pearl City Shopping Center Christmas Parade held on Sunday, December 1. Over 1500 participants representing Vehicle and Marching Units, and hundreds of neighbors and friends lined the parade route that started at 4:00pm fronting Momilani Elementary School on Hookiekie Street and traveled all the way to the Pearl City Shopping via Hoolaulea Street.
Mahalo to my fellow parade co-chairs Irwin Santos and Patti Rabacal, and to all the amazing parade volunteers who once again made the annual Pearl City Shopping Center Christmas Parade a fun, safe, and exciting community family-oriented Holiday event for all to enjoy.
A very special mahalo goes out Officer Ke-Alii Makanani and HPD Officers from the Pearl City District 3 Community Policing Team who kept parade participants moving smoothly throughout the parade route while also securing parade participants and neighbors safety.
Trinity United Methodist Church generously donated chilled water for parade participants to stay hydrated and cool throughout the two-hour parade staging and line-up on Hookiekie Street fronting Momilani Elementary School.
Trophies and cash prizes were awarded to top Vehicle and Marching Units sponsored by the Pearl City Shopping Center Merchants Association:
Congratulations!
Vehicle Unit
1st Place – Soares Trucking
2nd Place – Hawaiian Electric
3rd Place – Hodson
Marching Unit
1st Place – Kanoelani Elementary
2nd Place – Pearl City Highlands Elementary
3rd Place – Our Lady of Good Counsel
Spirit Award
1st Place – Waiau Elementary
2nd Place – Pearl City Elementary
3rd Place – Chuck E. Cheese
The Pearl City Shopping Center Merchants Association also made their annual contributions to the Pearl City High School Charger Marching Band Program ($1000.00), and to the 2025 PCHS Project Graduation Program ($500.00).
I would also like say mahalo and express my sincere appreciation to Momilani Elementary School Principal Garrett Arakawa, and Highlands Intermediate Principal Lance Tanouye for allowing us to post parade announcer stations on school property.
Mahalo to our Pearl City Shopping Center Christas Parade announcer and sound teams:
Sandy and Jon Tsujimura
Jeff Kino
Devin “Ducky” Nakasone
Terry Visperas
Cliff and Noelle Meyer (and support staff/volunteers)
A heartfelt mahalo goes out to fellow Mana Loa Nimitz Lions Club community volunteers who did a great job with traffic control and parking duties at the end of the parade route near McDonald’s and Bank of Hawaii at the Pearl City Shopping Center: Elly, Dexter, Patrick, Dennis, and Loreto.
Mahalo to the outstanding Pearl City Shopping Center Security and Maintenance Team who do an excellent job day in and day out and especially executing their responsibilities as a team during big events held at the shopping center.
Hope everyone enjoyed the BLEIZEN FX Car Show that followed the parade in the parking lot near Long’s Drugs. Mahalo to BLEIZEN FX owners Lei and Bernard for producing and hosting another great show.
My apologies if left anyone out who deserved recognition for their support and hard work that contributed to the success of the 2024 Pearl City Shopping Center Christmas Parade.
Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Photos and Videos by Barry Villamil | MyPearlCity.com
