Kaua’i’s King Kamehameha Day Celebration (June 16, 2012)

About King Kamehameha Day

Kamehameha the Great united the Hawaiian Islands in 1810 and became its first king. Kamehameha Day is officially celebrated on June 11 and became a national holiday of the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1871 in memory of the King. Today, Kamehameha festivals are held on all the major islands, which aim to protect, preserve, and perpetuate the Hawaiian culture.

King Kamehameha statue draped with lei

As part of the tradition, the Kamehameha statue, which stands in front of Ali’iolani Hale on O’ahu, is draped with dozens of lei in honor of the King. This is a community effort involving Hawaiian civic clubs and many volunteers to string tens of thousands of flowers to make leis.

Kauai’s King Kamehameha Day Event

Kaua’i will hold its Kamehameha Day event on Saturday, June 16. The celebration begins at 9:00am in Lihue with a parade featuring marching bands, decorated floats, local dignitaries, and community organizations.

The highlight of the parade is the mounted units with Pa’u princesses representing each of the eight Hawaiian islands. Each unit displays vibrant colors in stunning costumes and intricately crafted haku lei. Their beautiful horses are expertly “dressed” for the event in matching colors and lei.

Beautifully adorned Pa’u Princess

Look out for Kaua’i’s princess who will be wearing purple, the official color of our island. The parade traverses along Rice St. and ends on the grounds of the historic Kaua’i County Building.

Kauai’s Ho’olaule’a (Festival) Details

The Ho’olaule’a (festival) begins at 10:00am and features Hawaiian dance, music, chant, arts and crafts. A variety of food and beverage selections are available for purchase. This is a wonderful event for the whole family to spend a day immersed in the Hawaiian culture.

Come and see what makes Kaua’i so special as we celebrate the life of Kamehameha the Great. Island residents and visitors alike will enjoy the sights and sounds of this traditional event…Kaua’i style.

Enjoy the natural beauty of Kaua’i

We welcome you to our island home, whether for a few days or for a lifetime, to experience the wonderful lifestyle Kaua’i has to offer. For information on Kaua’i homes and land, please contact me at shaylyn@hawaiilife.com or 808.635.5525.