King Kamehameha I Day: What You Need To Know
Posted by Anna on 4th May 2023
Hawaii, a U.S. state, observes King Kamehameha I Day on June 11 as a public holiday. It pays homage to Kamehameha the Great, the founder of the Hawaiian Islands of Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, and Hawai'i as a single, united kingdom.
King David Kalākaua dedicated a replica of King Kamehameha's statue in Honolulu in 1883 because the original had been temporarily lost at sea. The actual statue has since been found and is now situated at North Kohala on the island of Hawaii. This statue is also present in Hilo, Hawaii, and in Emancipation Hall at the Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, D.C.
Establishment of King Kamehameha I Day
King Kamehameha I
On December 22, 1871, Kamehameha V declared June 11 as King Kamehameha Day in memory of his grandfather, Kamehameha I. It was almost intended to take the place of July 31's Hawaiian Sovereignty Restoration Day, which the monarch and ministers did not appreciate because of its connection to the Paulet Affair.
The following year saw the first-holiday celebration. King Kamehameha I Day activities in the late 19th century included fairs, carnivals, horse races, velocipede races, and foot races. When Hawaii became a state in 1959, one of the first holidays to be declared by the governor and the state legislature was King Kamehameha I Day.
In order to honor the cultural traditions that King Kamehameha I defended as his society gradually shifted toward European trends, King Kamehameha I Day is now celebrated with elaborate ceremonies that harken back to prehistoric Hawai'i. The two-day King Kamehameha Hula Competition draws hula troupes from around the globe to the Neil S. Blaisdell Center. During the second night, prizes are given out.
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Floral parade
Floral parade
Every year, a floral parade takes place at various locations across the state of Hawaii during the King Kamehameha holiday. On the island of Oahu, the procession travels from Iolani Palace in the city center through Kakaako, Ala Moana, and Waikkk before arriving at Kapiolani Park. En route, it passes Honolulu Harbor and the Prince Khi Federal Building. The dedication of Kapiolani Park took place on June 11, which is also its anniversary. The Royal Hawaiian Band, the oldest municipal band in the United States, marches in the floral parade among other regional marching bands and artistically created floats made of local plants and flowers. Many neighborhood businesses enter floats for their workers.
The customary royal pau riders are a popular element of floral parades. They depict a regal court headed by a queen on a horse, followed by princesses that stand in for the eight principal Hawaiian and Molokai islands. Pau ladies in waiting to attend to each princess. Pa'u women wear colorful, opulent riding costumes from the 19th century that are adorned with lei and other floral bouquets.
Following the parade, the state holds a Hoolaulea, Hawaiian for "celebration," or "block party," complete with food and entertainment. Additionally, Kapiolani Park hosts numerous cultural events, including games, sports, and other activities organized by the Bishop Museum, the foremost Hawaiian cultural institution.
Three floral parades are held on the island of Hawaii. One at Hilo and one between the towns of Hawi and Kapaau. Every year, the King Kamehameha Day Celebration Parade and Hoolaulea are held on Alii Drive in Kailua Kona. At the King Kamehameha statue in Kapaau, there is also a lei-draping ceremony.
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Draping ceremony
Draping ceremony
The most significant custom of the festival began in 1901, the year the Territory of Hawaii was created. It is the afternoon draping ceremony, during which long strands of lei are draped over the Kamehameha Statue in front of Aliiolani Hale and Iolani Palace on King Street in the heart of Honolulu. On the Big Island of Hawaii, the former king's native land, the same practice is carried out at the Kamehameha Statue. Similar lei-draping ceremonies are placed outside of the state in the US Capitol, where the Kamehameha Statue is also covered there in the presence of government representatives.
Celebration of King Kamehameha Holiday
King Kamehameha Day
A Ho'olaule'a and a traditional Pa'u Parade are part of the festivities. The King Kamehameha Celebration Commission and other local nonprofits are in charge of planning the festivities.
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