King Kamehameha Day, June 11, was first proclaimed by
Kamehameha V (on December 22, 1871) as a day to honor his grandfather, Kamehameha I.[2] It was almost meant as a replacement for
Hawaiian Sovereignty Restoration Day (on July 31) which the king and ministers disliked due to its association with the
Paulet Affair.[3]
The first observance of the holiday happened the following year. Late 19th century celebrations of King Kamehameha I Day featured carnivals and fairs, foot races, horse races and
velocipede races. King Kamehameha I Day was one of the first holidays proclaimed by the
Governor of Hawaiʻi and the
Hawaiʻi State Legislature when Hawaiʻi achieved statehood in 1959.
Today, King Kamehameha I Day is treated with elaborate events harkening back to
ancient Hawaiʻi, respecting the cultural traditions that Kamehameha defended as his society was slowly shifting towards European trends. The King Kamehameha Hula Competition attracts
hula groups from all over the world to the
Neil S. Blaisdell Center for the two-day event. Prizes are awarded on the second night.
Floral parade
A
floral parade is held annually at various locations throughout the state of Hawaii. On the island of Oahu, the parade runs from
ʻIolani Palace in downtown Honolulu past
Honolulu Harbor and the
Prince Kūhiō Federal Building through
Kakaʻako,
Ala Moana and
Waikīkī, ending at
Kapiʻolani Park. June 11 is also the anniversary of the dedication of Kapiʻolani Park. The
floral parade features local marching bands—including the
Royal Hawaiian Band (the oldest municipal band in the United States)—and artistically designed floats using native flowers and plants. Many local companies enter floats for their employees.
A favorite
floral parade feature is the traditional royal paʻu riders. They represent a royal court led by a queen on horseback, followed by princesses representing the eight major islands of Hawaiʻi and
Molokini. Each princess is attended by paʻu ladies in waiting. Paʻu women are dressed in colorful and elegant 19th century riding gowns accented with lei and other floral arrangements.
After the parade, the state celebrates a Hoʻolauleʻa, literally celebration, or block party with food and music. Cultural exhibitions are also scattered throughout Kapiʻolani Park—arts and crafts, games, sports, and other events planned by the
Bishop Museum, the premier Hawaiian cultural institution.
On the Island of Hawaii, there are three floral parades held. One between the towns of
Hawi and
Kapaʻau and one in the town of Hilo. There is a King Kamehameha Day Celebration Parade and Hoʻolauleʻa in Kailua Kona on Aliʻi Drive each year. There is also a lei draping ceremony in Kapaau at the statue of King Kamehameha there.
Draping ceremony
The most important ritual of the celebration dates back to 1901 after the Territory of Hawaiʻi was established. It is the afternoon draping ceremony in which the
Kamehameha Statue in front of
Aliʻiolani Hale and ʻIolani Palace on King Street in
downtown Honolulu is draped in long strands of
lei. The same is done at the Kamehameha Statue on the former monarch's home island, the Big Island of Hawaiʻi. Outside of the state, a similar draping ceremony is held at the
United States Capitol where the
Kamehameha Statue there is also draped in lei in the company of federal officials.
Celebration
The celebration includes a traditional Pa‘u Parade and a
Ho‘olaule‘a. The celebrations are organized by the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission and other community organizations.
References
^Day, A. Grove (1984). History Makers of Hawaii. Honolulu Hawaii (printed in Japan): Mutual Publishing of Honolulu. p. 66.
ISBN0935180095.
^Schmitt, Robert C. (1995). "Holidays in Hawaiʻi". Hawaiian Journal of History. 29. Honolulu: Hawaiian Historical Society: 141–146.
hdl:
10524/338.
^"Memorial Day". The Pacific Commercial Advertiser. Honolulu. June 14, 1873. p. 2.;
"Commemoration Day". The Pacific Commercial Advertiser. Honolulu. June 17, 1876. p. 3.
Hawaiian Historical Society (May 1936). "Forty-Fourth Annual Report of the Hawaiian Historical Society for the Year 1935". Honolulu, Hawaii: Hawaiian Historical Society.
hdl:
10524/50. {{
cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (
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(federal) = federal holidays, (abbreviation) = state/territorial holidays, (religious) = religious holidays, (cultural) = holiday related to a specific
racial/ethnic group or
sexual minority, (week) = week-long holidays, (month) = month-long holidays, (36) =
Title 36 Observances and Ceremonies