HONOLULU — At 9 a.m. on a sunny and breezy Saturday morning, the 106th King Kamehameha Celebration Floral Parade made its way from Iolani Palace to Queen Kapiolani Park following Friday’s late afternoon King Kamehameha Statue Lei Draping at Aliʻiolani Hale.
This yearʻs theme is “E ala e nā kini o ka ʻāina!” Arise all people of the land!
The day of June 11 and events held statewide, remember the man who was born in Hawaii Island’s North Kohala and prophesied to one day bring all the Hawaiian Islands under his rule.
In 1871, the people of Hawaii under Lot Kapūaiwa (Kamehameha V) wished to honor his legacy on his birthday, Dec. 11. Instead, he honored his grandfather and selected a day as far away from his own birthday. Therefore, Kamehameha V selected the arbitrary date of June 11 to celebrate King Kamehameha. On Dec. 22, 1871, King Kamehameha V proclaimed a national holiday on June 11 to celebrate his grandfather, therefore June 11, 1872, was the very first Kamehameha Day to be celebrated.
People brought chairs and blankets or sat on the curb beneath the cooling shade of trees along Ala Moana Boulevard anticipating the start of the parade that was making its way down the road. Honolulu police officers on motorbikes wearing lei set the celebratory tone of aloha.
Instead of being in this year’s parade, Honolulu Police Officer Don Faumuina was instead seated behind the mic as volunteer emcee.
“I’ve been doing this for the last six years,” said Faumuina. “I look forward to just seeing people come together, those that are visiting from throughout the world. To be here, to celebrate this momentous occasion, of course, to honor King Kamehameha and what he’s done for the culture, for the Hawaiian people.
“I’ve been a police officer for HPD for 23 years, and this is one of my ways to give back to the community. I’m so excited to see what this year’s parade is gonna offer with all the different pāʻū riders, those that are visiting, like the bands that come in from the continent and everybody else. So let’s just have a great time,” added Faumuina.
Faumuina has a way of making people feel comfortable, even in this open-air “venue.” He cracked jokes, calling out his fellow officers, asking for water, even humorously “scolding” visitors who were crossing the street in front of marchers.
Jennifer was seated with her grandson, Jack. “We are kamaʻāina from Mānoa and we’re here today to enjoy the parade,” said Jennifer. “We’re hoping to see fire trucks, policemen, horses and marching bands, and all the things he’s never experienced before.”
The Royal Hawaiian Band was followed by the sounding of the conch shell, representatives from many Hawaiian organizations, then the parade’s overall pāʻū queen dressed in white. Marching bands, pāʻū units representing each island, dancers from the Polynesian Cultural Center, a Volkswagon bug club, and others joined in the festivities. The “pooper scoopers” following each unit were possibly the most celebrated parade participants.
Sarah Yamanaka covers events, environmental and community news for Spectrum News Hawaii. She can be reached at sarah.yamanaka@charter.com.