The Forth of July was a special day for most people my age since we could burn fireworks. Sparkers.......that was a hot item in those days (50 years ago)...........the good old days!
The day would begin by driving to downtown Hilo to watch the forth of July parade. We had an old car with "suicide doors". It was a small parade with military bands and lots of Army, Navy and National Guardsmen marching. There were always Pau' Riders dressed according to the colors representative of each of the different Hawaiian island. Any parade in Hawaii is not complete without the Hawaiian court riding horseback - side saddle mostly.
After the parade, most families would walk to the bandstand, spread out a blanket and eat a meal while listening to the Hawaii County Band. The band played patriotic music in the park under the banyan tree. You met your friends and neighbors, ate picnics, shared food and stories with them. It was a peaceful time that we remembered our Nation as being an independent one.
As a child, the most important part of the day was nighttime. It didn't get dark fast enough because we could play with the sparklers. We lived on an acre lot in the Kawailani area in Hilo (HEE-LOW). My cousins, aunts and uncles would join us just before dark to play with fireworks. The ladies would be indoors "talking story". The men would prepare by giving all of us little kids instructions on how to be care. "Hold it this way.' "Don't put it near your eyes." "Keep it away from your cousin's face and hair." "If it gets too hot drop it in the water." Yes, there was always a bucket full of water nearby.
Under the dark Hilo sky, my dad would light our sparklers. "Look at the colors". "I can write my name." "How come mine didn't light?" "You got more than me." There was always complaints but lots of oooos and ahhhs.. it was a happy time that I shall never forget.
Hope your memories of Independence Day are of your childhood home in our land of the free and the home of the brave. Lots of brave men and women have died for our country to give us this freedom.
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