Advertiser Photo by Walt Southward

Brewer’s float rides down street as Merry Monarch Festival opens.

Parade Opens Hilo’s Festival

HILO—The Merry Monarch Festival, depicting the days of King Kalakaua, opened here yesterday with an hour-long parade which passed in review before some 5,000 Big Islanders.

The festival will continue until Saturday night.

The parade, with Duke Kahanamoku as grand marshal, and County Chairman Helene hale and Lieutenant Governor Richardson riding in lead convertibles, included floats, marching units, Keystone Kops, clowns, oldtime cars, pa’u riders and other attractions.

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LAST NIGHT, the coronation pageant and ball were held at the Hilo Armory.

Today, plans call for the preliminary judging in the barbershop quartet at noon; a band concert at 5:30 p.m.; a preliminary judging in the mustache – sideburn contest at 6:30 p.m.; a pageant at 7 p.m., and street dancing at 8 p.m.

All events, except the pageant which is scheduled for the armory, will be held in Mooheau Park.

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WINNERS OF FLOAT competition in yesterday’s parade were the Imua UE club, the University of Hawaii Hilo campus and C. Brewer & Co., Ltd. They won $100, $50 and $25 prizes respectively.

The grand finale of the festival will be a Merry Monarch Ball at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Hilo and Naniloa Hotels and the Club Hukilau.

(Advertiser, 4/2/1964, p. A2)

Honolulu Advertiser, 109th Year, Number 54,352, Page A2. April 2, 1964.