Gayle Fujita Ramsey had always wanted to take part in a parade, but it took a bout of breast cancer and the support of more friends and family than she could name to get her into the stirrups as the Princess of Kaua'i at yesterday's 93rd annual King Kamehameha Celebration Floral Parade.

The sprawling pageant on hoof and wheel — involving thousands of marchers, 50 vehicles, 10 floats and eight bands — started at the intersection of King and Richards streets and continued along Ala Moana Boulevard and Kalakaua Avenue to Kapi'olani Park.

"It was better than I thought it could ever be," said Fujita Ramsey, a Pearl City resident.

Ramsey and her fellow pa'u-adorned princesses drew raucous cheers as they rode their horses along the course. But for Ramsey, the three-mile trek was just the culmination of a much more satisfying journey.

As she and attendant Cathy Gilbert of Waimanalo enjoyed some much-deserved shade back at Kapi'olani Park, Ramsey recounted the long hours of preparation that she, her family and friends like Awa Kamai sacrificed to make the day possible, including flying to the Big Island and picking flowers, sun-up to sundown, to use for their lei.

"I didn't know anything," Fujita Ramsey said. "But we learned how to gather the flowers, what each of their names were, and how they were used. It was the joining together of so many people that made this special. We just got to enjoy the end result, but there were so many people involved."

Thousands of residents and visitors lined the streets to watch the procession. Some came well prepared with lawn chairs, drinks and sunscreen. Others huddled beneath trees and awnings to avoid the blazing sun.

At Ala Moana Center, dozens of onlookers lined the second tier of the parking structure fronting Ala Moana Boulevard and watched as the U.S. Marine Corps marching band passed by playing "The Marine's Hymn" and the parade's royal court waved from a float draped with ti, monstera and torch ginger.

"It's a special day," said Bill Haole of Mililani, who served as an escort for royal descendant Quentin Kawananakoa. "It's an emotional reconnection to our history. For some, it's about sovereignty. For some, it's about preservation of our culture. But it's also about celebrating and commemorating Kamehameha."

Alika Kuraoka, who rode on the ali'i float, said he felt honored to take part in his second Kamehameha parade.

"It's a big thing for me," said Kuraoka, a graduate of Kamehameha Schools. "It shows the pride that we have in our history and culture, as well as how we all come together to support each other."

Avi Tuifagu of Palolo Valley came with girlfriend Tina Jardine, stepdaughter Brandie and Brandie's 2-year-old daughter, Alana.

"I come every year," Tuifagu said. "This year, I had to bring my granddaughter. This has been a tradition since I was a baby, and I like to see the horses and all the colors representing the different islands."

Jennifer Lincoln of Wahiawa also brought her kids, 4-year-old Franklin and 3-year-old Reagan, as part of a family tradition. Still, the parade wasn't quite as elaborate as others she remembers.

"We're still waiting for all those wonderful flowers and for some kind of float," she said.

The Liberty High School Marching Band of Liberty, Mo., worked a year and a half of fundraisers to make the trip to Honolulu to participate in the parade.

Director of bands Paul Warnex said he and his students enjoyed the opportunity to explore the history of Hawai'i.

"This is our first trip overseas," he said. "All the rest were in the states."