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   Yes We Can!

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." August, 1963

MLK-ONLINE

e commend the many who helped make our 20th Anniversary parade & rally events in 2008 the great success they indeed were (view images here). The Hawai`i MLK Day parade is truly "the people's parade". We have no staff and only a small group of volunteers working with little budget and our growth and achievements through the years are entirely because of the combined volunteer support of our local community and its rainbow of organizations and individuals. A sincere mahalo to you! In 2008, over 50 units and some 1000 people marched or rode in the parade, many thousands watched from the sidewalks and buildings in Waikiki, and an estimated 3000 attended the 2008 post-parade Rally.

It's no news to anyone that our world has changed dramatically since January of 2008. Many of us are frightened about our jobs, savings, homes and retirement -- indeed frieghtened about our very futures. In researching a theme for the 2009 events, we revisited the speech delivered by Dr. King on April 4th, 1967, at a meeting of Clergy and Laity Concerned at the Riverside Church in New York City; Beyond Vietnam -- A Time to Break Silence and the following statement by Dr. King seemed to resonate with us as the 2009 theme:

If we do not act, we shall surely be dragged down the long, dark, and shameful corridors of time reserved for those who possess power without compassion, might without morality, and strength without sight. The entire speech is on YouTube HERE

With this mandate to act, the MLK Coalition-Hawai`i is again honored to extend its invitation to the community and its many organizations and individuals to participate in the 21st Annual MLK Parade & Celebration to be held on the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Holiday on Monday, January 19, 2009. If ever we needed to visibly reaffirm the powerful messages for which Dr. King stood, that time must certainly be now. Please plan to join us.

Our parade begins at Magic Island with the formation of organizations at 7:30 am. At 9 am the parade moves out, moving thru Waikiki to Kapiolani Park and the Unity Celebration, with its exciting program of live music and dance, ethnic & local food, community organization booths -- and much camaraderie.

Contributions, no matter how small to support our events are appreciated and may be mailed to:
MLK-Hawai`i
590 Farrington Highway #210
P.O. 163
Kapolei, Hawai`i 96707