Maui Keiki Pa‘u riders make their way through Makawao in 2019. Floats, bands, classic cars and horseback riders will fill the streets again on Saturday as the parade returns from its pandemic hiatus. It’s being held a week ahead of the Makawao Stampede to allow more horseback riders to participate. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo

A dinosaur, Snoopy, Bart Simpson and a bull were some of Duane Hamamura’s float creations over the years for the annual Makawao Parade.

“I always tried to make stuff I felt the kids would enjoy,” said the former owner of Makawao Feed, Garden & Hardware in Makawao town.

Using the lumber he sold at his store, along with chicken wire, he would craft the characters and use paper mache to finish them off, said the 73-year-old Hamamura, who honed his skills as a floatmaker while a student at Leilehua High School in Wahiawa, Oahu, where students made floats for the homecoming parade.

“It was a lot of work,” Hamamura said of the floats he made in Makawao beginning around 1988. But, “it was a lot of fun.”

Eventually Hamamura, who was also president of the Makawao Community Association, began to co-chair the parade alongside Maui County Council Member Yuki Lei Sugimura in 2016. They took over after longtime parade organizer Theresa Thompson stepped down.

Duane Hamamura decorates Makawao town leading up to the annual parade in 2016. Hamamura, the former owner of Makawao Feed, Garden & Hardware who spent years making iconic floats and formerly co-chaired the event, will be this year’s parade honoree. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo

“I love Makawao, and enjoy doing things for Makawao,” said Hamamura, who held the parade leadership position for several years prior to the pandemic.

Now, as the parade makes its return Saturday after a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hamamura will be the parade’s honoree, an award he actually started to recognize those who helped the community, especially in Makawao.

“I’m humbled,” Hamamura said of the honor, noting he was reluctant to accept it.

Past honorees include Rose Cambra Freitas, an inductee to the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame who also co-founded the Maui All Girls Rodeo and Junior Boys and Girls Rodeo Association; Sam Viveiros, a noted rodeo announcer and rancher; and Tony Medeiros, a longtime Maui High girls soccer coach and soccer volunteer.

The parade kicks off at 9 a.m. Saturday and will begin at Makawao Elementary School and head down to Makani Road. Parade participants have the option to head to Oskie Rice Event Center lawn for a final lap.

The U.S. Pacific Fleet Band marches up Baldwin Avenue in 2019, the last time the Makawao Parade was held. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo

This year’s theme for the 55th annual Makawao Parade is “One vision, Celebrating Community.”

Parade Grand Marshal is Donna Otsuka, well known in the community for her dedicated equestrian services and rodeo craft support to keiki pa’u units.

Heading up the parade this year is Michael Du Pont, who is assisted by Ana Peterson, along with volunteer Brenda Kualaau. Hamamura is advising.

Du Pont said the parade is being held a week prior to the 4th of July Makawao Stampede at the Oskie Rice Event Center, to allow for more horse riding units to participate in the parade.

Du Pont said that in previous years, many horse riders could not participate in the parade, as they were all preparing for the rodeo held on the same weekend.

Makawao Feed, Garden & Hardware owner Duane Hamamura loved creating floats for the annual Makawao Parade, such as this float of Snoopy, back in the late ’80s and early ’90s. He will be honored in the parade this Saturday. Photo courtesy Duane Hamamura

In total for this year’s parade, there are around 30 units, including horseback riders, cars, trucks, first responders, “all kind,” he said.

Entertainers Melveen Leed and Marty Dread will also perform.

Du Pont said that this year and going forward, the parade will kickoff weeklong events in Makawao town prior to the rodeo.

The event is co-hosted by the Makawao Parade committee and Maile Masada at the Oskie Rice Event Center, which is heading up the Makawao Stampede Fest Week and Country Concert.

The country concert will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the center.

Du Pont said there will be shuttles to and from Makawao town to Oskie Rice, so people can park there for $5, take a shuttle into town, watch the parade and shop, then take the shuttle back in time for the concert.

There will also be weeklong events in Makawao town leading up to the stampede on June 30, including restaurant discounts, a Chili Challenge and live music.

“We are so excited,” Du Pont said.

Hamamura is also excited about the new energy in the parade and new events being created.

“I think in years to come if they keep doing it, it will be bigger and better,” Hamamura said.

For more information, email info@makawaoparade.com.

* Staff Writer Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews.com.

Duane Hamamura decorates Makawao town leading up to the annual parade in 2016. Hamamura, the former owner of Makawao Feed, Garden & Hardware who spent years making iconic floats and formerly co-chaired the event, will be this year’s parade honoree. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo The U.S. Pacific Fleet Band marches up Baldwin Avenue in 2019, the last time the Makawao Parade was held. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo Maui Keiki Pa‘u riders make their way through Makawao in 2019. Floats, bands, classic cars and horseback riders will fill the streets again on Saturday as the parade returns from its pandemic hiatus. It’s being held a week ahead of the Makawao Stampede to allow more horseback riders to participate. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo
Makawao Feed, Garden & Hardware owner Duane Hamamura loved creating floats for the annual Makawao Parade, such as this float of Snoopy, back in the late ’80s and early ’90s. He will be honored in the parade this Saturday. Photo courtesy Duane Hamamura

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