HONOLULU — June 11 marked the 150th anniversary of the Kamehameha Day holiday and the return of the 105th King Kamehameha Celebration Floral Parade on a clear summer day. This year’s theme was “E Ola Ka Inoa O Kamehameha — 150th Kamehameha Day Anniversary.”
Residents and visitors lined the parade route that began at the stately Iolani Palace and made its way down Punchbowl St. onto Ala Moana Blvd., then onto Kalakaua Ave. into Waikiki. The parade ended at Queen Kapiolani Park, where a hoolaulea took place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Some of the parade participants included the Royal Hawaiian Band, members of the Royal Order of Kamehameha, each island’s pa‘u unit — elegantly coiffed, dressed in vivid colors and beautiful florals atop stately horses (followed by the obligatory poop-scooping units) — pageant queens, dancers representing the Polynesian Cultural Center, U.S. Marine Corps marching band and more.
The spirit of aloha was tangible from many of the parade participants, as well as from the local crowd welcoming back a favorite event. Shouts of “Aloha aunty!” and “Mahalo guys!” greeted many.
Uncle Joey was on the sidelines, along with his wife and two grandchildren. “This was nice. I used to come long time ago, but missed a few years. This is the first time with the kids. Glad they brought it back.”
Most of the state’s Kamehameha Day festivities took place June 11, but Maui will host their parade and hoolaulea on June 18 in Lahaina.
How did Kamehameha Day get its start? It was King Kamehameha V who proclaimed Dec. 22, 1871, a national holiday to honor and celebrate his grandfather and father of the Hawaiian kingdom. At the time, the citizens of Hawaii also wanted to mark the legacy of Lot Kapūaiwa (Kamehameha V) on his birthday, Dec. 11. King Kamehameha V decided to select an arbitrary date, June 11, as far away from his own birthday. Therefore, June 11, 1872, was the very first Kamehameha Day holiday ever observed.
Sarah Yamanaka is a digital journalist for Spectrum News Hawaii. Read more of her stories here.