Hawaii County announces full-day Fourth of July celebrations in Hilo, Kona

Hawaii County set up a two-city Fourth of July program that gives Big Island residents a full day of options in Hilo and Kailua-Kona, from morning exercise and car culture to evening fireworks. The County of Hawaii Department of Parks and Recreation said the holiday lineup will include a car show, parade, live music, fireworks and more, with Mayor Kimo Alameda framing the observance as both a national commemoration and a community gathering as the nation moves toward its 250th anniversary.

In Hilo, the day will begin at Liliuokalani Gardens with A Salute to Our Veterans Hilo Bay 5K Run/Walk/Roll, then move to the Hilo Bayfront Soccer Fields for the Hot Rides Expo. The expo will feature vintage, classic and futuristic vehicles, and the county said all show vehicles are welcome at no charge. Families will also find live music, food trucks and children’s activities, including water slides and bounce houses, making the Hilo side of the holiday especially useful for keiki and visitors looking for a longer daytime program.

The evening Hilo schedule will build toward the Hilo Bay Blast fireworks exhibition, launched from a barge in Hilo Bay and synchronized to patriotic music on KWXX. A live band will perform beforehand at the Mo‘oheau Park bandstand, and county materials have traditionally set the Hilo fireworks for 8 p.m. To keep access moving, Bayfront Highway will close from Waiānuenue Avenue to Pauahi Street from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on July 4, while Lihiwai Street will close from 10 p.m. on July 3 through 10 a.m. on July 5. County sources said all gates along Mo‘oheau Park and the Hilo Bayfront Soccer Fields will stay open for pedestrian shoreline access.

County calendar material also lists shuttle service for Hilo spectators, with a shuttle to the Hilo Bayfront Soccer Field running from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and return trips from 8:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Elderly Recreation Services, at (808) 961-8710, is the contact for older residents planning to attend.

In Kailua-Kona, the celebration is being presented with the Kailua Village Parade Association and Fireworks Committee. The parade along Kuakini Highway and Ali‘i Drive will start at 6 p.m., and the “Independence Day Extravaganza” fireworks exhibition will begin at 8 p.m. over Kailua Bay. With Waimea also hosting its Parker Ranch rodeo and horse races, the county’s holiday schedule stretches across the island and gives residents more than one way to mark the day.