Throwback Thursday: 4th of July Celebrations
The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds are NOT coming to Hawaii this year. Don’t let today’s featured image deceive you.
This post is about the celebration of the 4th of July, Independence Day in the United States of America of which Hawaii is one of the nation’s 50 states. The United States will be observing its 245th birthday come July 4. It was on July 4, 1776 that the United States declared independence from England during the American Revolutionary War. The U.S. won the war. Through this country’s 245 year history it slowly but surely expanded across the North American continent and became a world power by the end of World War II.
In 1959 the islands of Hawaii became the 50th State in the union after the 93% of the voters cast ballot in favor of Hawaii becoming a part of the United States.
So today we are a State and regularly observe 4th of July observations and celebrations every year.
Typical Independence Day celebrations have included parades and fireworks shows. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, celebrations for the 4th of July are at best limited and subdued.
There will be no public fireworks shows in Honolulu or in Kailua. Some of the military bases have scheduled fireworks shows, but I suspect these will be limited to base personnel only. The annual 4th of July parade in Kailua town will once again be cancelled. There will be two fireworks shows on the island of Hawaii, one in Kona and the other in Hilo. I wonder if any of these shows will be live streamed?
Some observances will occur. The Ala Moana Center will be hosting two days of Hawaiian music concerts on their 2nd floor parking deck. The concerts will be free, though admission will be limited to ticket-holders only. Henry Kapono and the contemporary Hawaiian Style Band will headline the concerts.
More information on upcoming Independence Day events, as limited as they may be can be found at the various links below:
And now to take you back via photos and videos to a few 4th of July events years past:
