Kamehameha Day, held annually on June 11, honors Kamehameha the Great (Kamehameha I), the monarch who united and established the Kingdom of Hawii.

 

What do people do?

Traditionally, Kamehameha Day Celebrations included fairs, carnivals and running, horse and cycle races.

Now various events are organized on or around Kamehameha Day.

They include a floral parade through Honolulu;

statues of Kamehameha the Great being draped in lei (traditional flower garlands);

parties; horse riding competitions;

 

and the King Kamehameha Hula Competition.

 

 

Public life

Kamehameha Day is a state holiday in Hawaii. Many state offices and schools are closed and public transit services may run to a reduced schedule, as there is so much to do……different every year.

Stores and other businesses may be open or closed. Kamehameha Day is not a public holiday in other parts of the United States on June 11.

 

Background

Kamehameha the Great, also known as Kamehameha I and Kamehameha the First, was ruler of Hawaii from 1782 until his death on May 8, 1819.

He is remembered for uniting Hawaii, introducing laws to uphold human rights in combat situations, and for being a fair and stable leader. His name means “lonely” or “loneliness” and he is sometimes known as the “Napoleon of the Pacific”.

In 1871, the great-grandson of Kamehameha the Great, known as Kamehameha V, passed a royal decree that Kamehameha Day should be Celebrated.

The day was first observed on June 11, 1872, and was one of the first holidays proclaimed by the Hawaii State Legislature after Hawaii became a US state in 1959.

 

 

Symbols

Important symbols of Kamehameha Day are the statues of Kamehameha the Great in the Hawaiian cities of Honolulu, Kapaau and Hilo, as well as the National Statuary Hall on the US Capitol in Washington DC. 

During the Kamehameha Day Ceremonies, the statues are draped in lei.

These are garlands made by stringing flowers or leaves together and are often hung around the necks of loved ones, visitors and statues of respected people.

 

Language

Olelo Hawaii:   The Hawaiian language or “Olelo Hawaii” is one of the oldest living languages in the world. Since the introduction of the Westerner into Hawaii in 1778, the number of people who speak Hawaiian fluently has dropped dramatically. Today, only about 1% of the people who live in Hawaii speak its native tongue.

The Hawaiian language has had a tumultuous history. There has been a resurgence of the language over the past thirty or so years. Many people are learning the language again. Today, it is being taught in Hawaiian language immersion schools, and one can even get a Masters Degree in the Hawaiian language from the University of Hawaii, Hilo.

History:   www.royalark.net/Hawaii/hawaii5.htm

Language:  http://www.to-hawaii.com/hawaiian-language.php 

 

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sends our best wishes to all the Women of Hawaii.

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