Kamehameha Day

Kamehameha Day on June 11 is a public holiday of the state of Hawaii in the United States. It honors the first monarch that established the unified Kingdom of Hawaii — comprised of the Hawaiian Islands of Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Maui and Hawaii. Kamehameha is known as the Napoleon of the Pacific for his achievements in warfare and diplomacy. Kamehameha Day is the only public holiday in the United States that honors a monarch. Prince Kuhio Day is the only other holiday in the United States that celebrates the life of a royal.

Establishment

The holiday was first established by royal decree of the ruling great grandson Kamehameha V on 1871. The first observance of the holiday happened the following year. After a coup d'état of the peacably reigning Liliuokalani, orchestrated by American businessmen with the duplicitous aide of the United States Department of State Minister to Hawaii and the landing of the United States Marine Corps from the USS Boston to forcibly remove the queen from power at gunpoint, the holiday was honored by the newly created Republic of Hawaii and its successor Territory of Hawaii. It was an attempted means for conspirators of the overthrow to show Hawaiians that life under the new regime had not changed. Late 19th century celebrations of Kamehameha Day featured carnivals and fairs, foot races, horse races and velocipede races. Kamehameha Day was one of the first holidays proclaimed by the Governor of Hawaii and the Hawaii State Legislature when Hawaii achieved statehood in 1959.

Today, Kamehameha Day is treated with elaborate events harkening back to ancient Hawaii, 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 from Iolani Palace in downtown Honolulu past Honolulu Harbor and the Prince Kuhio Federal Building through Kakaako, Ala Moana and Waikiki, ending at Kapiolani Park. June 11 is also the anniversary of the dedication of Kapiolani 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 corporations such as Sheraton Hotels and Resorts Hawaii, Aloha Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines enter floats for their employees.

A favorite floral parade feature is the traditional royal pa‘u riders. They represent a royal court led by a queen on horseback, followed by princesses representing the eight major islands of Hawaii and Molokini. Each princess is attended by pa‘u ladies in waiting. Pa‘u 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 Ho‘olaule‘a or block party with food and music. Cultural exhibitions are also scattered throughout Kapiolani Park — arts and crafts, games, sports and other events planned by the Bishop Museum, the premier Hawaiian cultural institution.

Draping ceremony

The most important ritual dates back to 1901 after the Territory of Hawaii was established. It is the evening draping ceremony in which the Kamehameha Statue in front of Aliiolani Hale and Iolani 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 Hawaii. 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 commission

In 1939, the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission was established to raise money, plan and manage the annual Kamehameha Day festivities. Today it is an agency of the Hawaii State Department of Accounting and General Services or DAGS. The commission today plans dozens of events and floral parades on each of the Hawaiian Islands.

Sources

• King Kamehameha Celebration Commission (http://www.hawaii.gov/dags/agencies/king_kamehameha_commission)
• Kohala Kamehameha Day Celebration (http://www.kamehamehadaycelebration.org/)