Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 27, Number 6, 1 June 2010 — KAMEHAMEHA DAY [ARTICLE]

KAMEHAMEHA DAY

Friday, June 11, statewide festivities begin

By Jennifer Armstrong KaWai Ola

This year marks the 200th anniversary of the uniheahon of the Hawaiian Islands by Kamehameha I. To celebrate the bicentennial and to honor Kamehameha the Great, Hawai'i's first king, the 94th annual King Kamehameha festivities will eommenee on June 11 statewide. It is by royal proclamation that this state holiday exists today. In 187 1, the ruling greatgrandson Kamehameha V declared June 1 1 as a holiday to honor the monarch who established the Kingdom of Hawai'i, comprised of the eight major Hawaiian Islands. On O'ahu, this year's festivities include the annual King Kamehameha Floral Parade, whieh begins at 9 a.m. at Fort DeRussy and makes it way to 'Iolani Palaee, the former seat of the Hawaiian Kingdom, in downtown Honolulu. A ho'olaule'a will follow at the palaee. Kawaiaha'o Church will be having its annual lū'au fundraiser selling $20 Hawaiian food plates, bringing a block party feel to the festivities. This year's celebration theme is "Ho'okahi ka mana'o, ho'okahi ka pu'uwai, ho'okahi ke aloha - Be of one mind, one heart, one love." According to Honolulu's King Kamehameha Celebration Commission, the theme is presented by the late commissioner Poni E. Kamau'u and inspired by the 200th anniversary of the uniflcation of the Hawaiian Islands. ■

For more than 130 years, eaeh island eelebrates this state holiday in various forms. Below is a list of the statewide festivities happening on or around June 1 1 in honor of Kamehameha Day. HAWAI'I ISLAND » North Kohala Kamehameha Day Celebration Fri, June 11, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Thousands gather every year to honor the king in his birthplace. The celebration starts at 8 a.m. with the draping of the original Kamehameha Statue in 22-foot-long floral lei followed by hula, history and music. At 9 a.m. the parade goes from Kohala High School to the Kamehameha statue and back to Kamehameha park in Kapa'au. At 10 a.m. the ho'olaule'a in the

park otters tood and Hawanan music. kamehamehadaycelebration.org » Hilo 2010 Kamehameha Day Festival

Fri, June 11, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Honors the king through traditional Hawaiian dance and cultural practices, music, chant and arts and crafts. kamehamehafestival.org

MAUI » Lahaina King Kamehameha Pā'ū Parade along Front Street and Ho'olaule'a Sun., June 13, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. KAUA'I Kamehameha Day Parade and Ho'olaule'a Sat, June 19, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. New route begins at the Kapa'a New Town Park, goes through Kapa'a and ends on the lawn fronting Makalwa Bay. O'AHU » Honolulu Lei draping Fri, June 11, 11:30 a.m. The King Kamehameha statue fronting the Ali'iōlani Hale judiciary building in downtown Honolulu will be draped with fragrant lei, as scores of onlookers capture the moment with their cameras. The Royal Hawaiian Band gets things started at 1 1 a.m. King Kamehameha Floral Parade Sat, June 12 Starts at 9 a.m. at Fort DeRussy, ends at 'Iolani Palaee. Ho'olaule'a to follow at the palaee. 586-0333, kkcc@hawaii.gov hawaii . go v/dag s/king_kamehameha_ commission

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