King Kamehameha I Day on June 11 is a public holiday in the
temporarily lost at sea but was recovered and is now located in North Kohala, island of Hawaiʻi). There are duplicates of this statue in Emancipation Hall at the Capitol Visitor Center
in Washington, D.C., and in Hilo, island of Hawaiʻi.
Establishment
King Kamehameha Day, June 11, was first proclaimed by
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
Neil S. Blaisdell Center
for the two-day event. Prizes are awarded on the second night.
Floral parade
King Kamehameha I Day Floral Parade – Kamehameha float, June 11, 2016
A
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
Lei Draping ceremony of June, 2016
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
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.
^"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.
(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
