(BIVN) – It felt like a grassroots gathering at the Hawaii County Democratic Party’s “Malama ‘Aina for the Keiki” event held on the 4th of July at Maka’eo Pavilion.

The free public event gave attendees an opportunity to “celebrate the beauty of our ‘aina and learn about community efforts to protect our fragile ecosystems and cultural resources.”

Hawaii County Democratic Party chair Margaret Wille wanted to keep the discussion focused on environmental and sustainability efforts, but also wanted to update the people about “the fate of government legislation in 2017 and how we can do better in the 2018 legislative session”, according to event promotional materials. “Also learn what we can do to protect our national monuments and marine reserves against Trump’s plans to eliminate and reduce these special places.”

Hawaii County democrats usually hold an event on Independence Day in Kona, coinciding with the parade down Kailua Village. The event is traditionally billed as a barbecue or picnic. However this year, with Wille at the helm, the gathering became a smorgasbord of resistance and a chance for the organizations to network.

Here’s a list of participating groups, circulated before the event:

• Ulu Mau Puanui–Kamuela Plunkett
• Nā Kalai Wa’a (Makali’i Voyaging Canoe)
• Malama Honua Art
• Mā’ona Community Garden
• Protect Pōhakuloa
• Papahānaumokuākea and Environmental Legislation
• Kaloko-Honokohau Hui
• Hemp for Hawai’i
• Hawai’i Wildlife Fund
• Clean Up Kona
• HIP Agriculture
• Rally for Common Ground
• Puako Coral Reef Alliance
• Reefs at Risk–Sunscreen Swap
• Hawai’ian Ola, B Corp
• The Kohala Center
• Save Kahalu’u Initiative
• Democratic Party Hawai’i Environmental Caucus
• No Incinerator on Hawai’i Island
• PATH Hawai’i
• Paradise Patriots
• Rat Lung Worm in Hawai’i
• NOAA
• Vegan Aloha
• Keaukaha Action Network
• Sierra Club Hawai’i–Moku Loa
• O’okala Dairy
• One Aloha Children

Hawaii Co. Democratic Party Vice Chair Tonya Coulter, a figure in the Rally For Common Ground movement along with Maya Parish (see video at the top), served as master of ceremonies.

Big Island Video News will feature many of the speakers at event in coming stories. We will link them here.