King Kamehameha Day
This Hawaiian holiday honors King Kamehameha the Great who united the Hawaiian islands.
This Hawaiian holiday honors King Kamehameha the Great who united the Hawaiian islands.
Renee Harleston
Reviewer URLPronunciation: King Kuh-may-huh-may-uh Day
This Hawaiian holiday honors King Kamehameha the Great who united the Hawaiian islands.
Origin
The first King Kamehameha Day was celebrated on June 11, 1872. Lot Kapuāiwa (Kamehameha V) created the holiday to honor his grandfather, Kamehameha I. Kamehameha I unified Hawaii into one kingdom in 1810. This prophesied unification helped Hawaii as it attempted to stave off colonization and invasion. King Kamehameha I died in 1819.
Racing and carnivals featured heavily in the first King Kamehameha Day. The Kamehameha Schools, founded by Bernice Pauahi Bishop, another grandchild of Kamehameha the Great, notes more than 4,000 people gathered to watch the horse races.
When Hawaii was declared a state in 1959, King Kamehameha Day was marked as an official state holiday.
When it is observed
If the holiday falls on a Sunday, the state of Hawaii will observe the Monday after King Kamehameha Day.
Traditions
Today, King Kamehameha Day is marked by lei-draping ceremonies at statues of King Kamehameha, floral parades and rodeos. Historical and cultural societies hold lei-making workshops and educational workshops on pāʻū, an 18th-century Hawaiian garment specifically designed for women horseback riders. Composed of a single length of fabric secured via twists and tucks, the pāʻū hangs artfully over the side of the horse while women ride astride. (This differs from the sidesaddle riding that Western women typically adopted.) Pāʻū riders frequently lead the floral parades. The color of the rider's pāʻū and lei indicate what part of Hawaii they are representing.
Live music, food and dancing all factor into King Kamehameha Day. The celebrations typically stretch over a couple of days. Celebrations are held on every island.
What to say
"Happy King Kamehameha Day" is a traditional greeting.