Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 25, Number 3, 1 Malaki 2008 — King's coronation [ARTICLE]

King's coronation

The 125th anniversary of the 1883 coronation of His Majesty Ka Mō'I, David Kalākaua and Queen Kapi'olani was observed on the grounds of 'Iolani Palaee on 12 Pepeluali 2008 with a recreation of the original ceremonies. The bandstand-coronation pavilion featured two royal thrones, a golden pūlo'ulo'u and a Hawaiian royal standard (flag). Princess Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawānanakoa, greatgrandniece of Queen Kapi'olani and King Kalākaua, and her nephew, David Kawānanakoa, sat in two large chairs beside the thrones. Former Royal Hawaiian bandmaster Aaron Mahi attended to the princess, and Hawaiian warrior La'akea Suganuma, anned with a spear, stood as her sentinel. The Royal Hawaiian Band and dignitaries from across the state and globe sat under large tents near the bandstand. Dignitaries included pronūnent Hawaiians in business, education, medicine, government and the royal societies; kūpuna; high-

ranking members of the Masons; loeal government and military leaders; representatives of several consulates; and descendants of the Kalākaua dynasty. The recreation was taken from an account published by the Advertiser Steam Printing House in 1883. Princess Kawānanakoa sponsored the recreation, along with the Friends of 'Iolani Palaee. After the noontime ceremony, a queue snaked around the palaee of people waiting to see a one-day exhibit of jewels associated with Kalākaua: the 18-karat gold ring he wore to his coronation, an 18carat gold neeklaee of nūniature royal orders made of diamonds, and a 11.75-carat capstone diamond that he wore before presenting it on a pendant to his queen. The pieces were on loan by Princess Kawānanakoa and the Bishop Museum.