PacificBusinessNews-article

July 4, 2014

Kailua's July Fourth fireworks return, thanks to donations from businesses and residents

By Braelyn Wood

The annual Kailua Fourth of July fireworks show will return on Friday thanks to the sponsorship from businesses includingAlexander & Baldwin, Clear Channel and Macy's, as well local residents, including one who calls himself "Uncle Kokua."

The annual fireworks show and daytime parade have been a tradition in Kailua since 1948. But in 2005, the Kailua Chamber of Commerce decided to pull funding from the fireworks shows and focus exclusively focus on the parade.

The funding passed between the hands of various companies and committees until 2012, when the fireworks display was cancelled due to the lack of funding.

Eight Kailua residents formed a volunteer foundation in 2013 to raise money for the Fourth of July fireworks and air show, but the funding fell short by $25,000 and the event was almost cancelled.

That's when part-time Kailua resident Uncle Kokua stepped in, and donated the remaining funds to save the show.

Uncle Kokua is the pseudonym for Marc Paskin, a San Diego multi-millionaire who earned his fortune from real estate investments. He was featured on the ABC television show “Secret Millionaire” in March 2011 and also has his own show on KFVE called “Uncle Kokua.”

Uncle Kokua decided to donate again in 2014 after saving last year’s display, and offered to match event sponsor donations up to $25,000.

The event sponsorship included four different levels including platinum, gold, silver and bronze. The highest platinum level sponsorship was for donations over $25,000. Uncle Kokua was the only platinum sponsor. The other sponsorships ranged from $2500 to $10,000 donations.

Sponsors for the 2014 Firework display included Clear Channel, Alexander & Baldwin Inc., the John King Family, Macy’s, Kalapawai Market, Bank of Hawaii, Hardware Hawaii and D.R. Horton.

This year's goal for the foundation was to raise $80,000. While the foundation was still counting the money from donation boxes around Kailua as of Thursday, the total amount raised was still at $72,000.

Even though fireworks are paid for this year, the foundation wanted the complete amount to help pay for parking, security and marketing. Any money left over from this year’s event would be used to begin planning the 2015 firework display.

Kailua Fireworks committee member Linda Ross emphasized the importance of community donations in making sure the event continues into the future.

“The show continues to be funded by the residents. Although we are the organizing group, there is no one entity paying for it,” said Ross, “Our show is really just a group of mish-mash residents who have come together and work throughout the year to make sure the event happens. We’re still relying on everyone. We still need help from the community.”