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Kamehameha Day on June 11 is a public holiday of the state of Hawaii in the United States. It honors Kamehameha the Great, the monarch who first established the unified Kingdom of Hawaiʻi — comprising the Hawaiian Islands of Niʻihau, Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Kahoʻolawe, Maui and Hawaiʻi. Kamehameha is known as the Napoleon of the Pacific for his achievements in warfare and diplomacy. is the 162nd day of the year (163rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... “Kamehameha” redirects here. ... Louis XIV, king of France and Navarre (Painting by Hyacinthe Rigaud, 1701). ... Motto Ua mau ke ea o ka āina i ka pono Anthem Hawaii Ponoi Kingdom of Hawaii Capital Lahaina (until 1845) Honolulu (from 1845) Language(s) Hawaiian, English Government Constitutional monarchy Monarch  - 1795–1819 Kamehameha I  - 1891–1893 Liliuokalani Provisional Government  - 1893-1894 Committee of Safety History  - Inception 1795  - Unification... Map of the Hawaiian Islands, a chain of islands that stretches 1,500 mi (2,400 km) in a northwesterly direction from the southern tip of the Island of Hawaii. ... Niihau is the smallest of the inhabited Hawaiian Islands in the U.S. State of HawaiÊ»i, having an area of 179. ... Kauai (Hawaiian IPA pron. ... OÊ»ahu (usually Oahu outside Hawaiian and Hawaiian English), the Gathering Place, is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous island in the State of HawaiÊ»i. ... MolokaÊ»i as viewed from KaÊ»anapali, Maui MolokaÊ»i (also Molokai) is the fifth largest island of the Hawaiian archipelago. ... LānaÊ»i (IPA: ) is the sixth-largest of the Hawaiian Islands. ... Kaho‘olawe is the smallest of the 8 main volcanic islands in the Hawaiian Islands. ... For other uses, see Maui (disambiguation). ... The Island of Hawaii (called the Big Island or Hawaii Island) is a volcanic island in the Pacific Ocean and one of the eight main islands that comprise the U.S. state of Hawaii. ... -1... This article is about negotiations. ...

Establishment

The holiday was first established by royal decree of the ruling great grandson Kamehameha V on 1871. The first observance of the holiday happened the following year. Late 19th century celebrations of Kamehameha Day featured carnivals and fairs, foot races, horse races and velocipede races. Kamehameha Day was one of the first holidays proclaimed by the Governor of Hawaiʻi and the Hawaiʻi State Legislature when Hawaiʻi achieved statehood in 1959. Kamehameha V was the last monarch of the House of Kamehameha. ... 1871 (MDCCCLXXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... The velocipede was the predecessor of the bicycle, a human-powered vehicle introduced in the Victorian age. ... The factual accuracy of this article is disputed. ... Hawaii Governor Benjamin J. Cayetano speaks before a special session of the legislature on January 24, 2000. ... Year 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Considered a great statesman for his mastery of diplomacy, Kamehameha is called the Napoleon of the Pacific.

Today, Kamehameha Day is treated with elaborate events harkening back to ancient Hawaiʻi, respecting the cultural traditions that Kamehameha defended as his society was slowly shifting towards European trends. The King Kamehameha Hula Competition attracts hula groups from all over the world to the Neil S. Blaisdell Center for the two day event. Prizes are awarded on the second night. This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Early Polynesians settled in HawaiÊ»i circa A.D. 7th century, having traveled from Tahiti and Marquesas on double-hulled voyaging canoes Ancient HawaiÊ»i refers to the period of Hawaiian history preceding the unification of the Kingdom of HawaiÊ»i by Kamehameha the Great in 1810. ... This article is about the Hawaiian dance. ... The Neal S. Blaisdell Center is the premier community center for the City & County of Honolulu. ...

Floral parade

A floral parade is held annually from ʻIolani Palace in downtown Honolulu past Honolulu Harbor and the Prince Kūhiō Federal Building through Kakaʻako, Ala Moana and Waikīkī, ending at Kapiʻolani Park. June 11 is also the anniversary of the dedication of Kapiʻolani Park. The floral parade features local marching bands — including the Royal Hawaiian Band (the oldest municipal band in the United States) — and artistically designed floats using native flowers and plants. Many local companies enter floats for their employees. Iolani Palace was the official residence of King David Kalakaua and Queen Julia Kapiolani and then Queen Liliuokalani and Prince Consort John Owen Dominis. ... Aloha Tower has been greeting vessels to port at Honolulu Harbor since September 11, 1926. ... The Prince KÅ«hiō Federal Building, formally the Prince Jonah KÅ«hiō Kalaniana‘ole Federal Building and United States Courthouse, is the official seat of the United States federal government and its local branches of various agencies and departments in the state of Hawai‘i. ... Kakaako stretches from Honolulu Harbor to Ala Moana near Waikīkī and is home to Victoria Ward Centers and the John A. Burns School of Medicine. ... Ala Moana stretches from Honolulu Harbor to Waikīkī and is home to Ala Moana Center, once the largest shopping center in the United States and today the largest open air shopping center in the world. ... WaikÄ«kÄ« seen from the top of Diamond Head or LÄ“ahi. ... Kapi‘olani Park is the largest and oldest public park in Hawai‘i, located in Honolulu, Hawaii on the east end of WaikÄ«kÄ«. The 300-acre park, named after Queen Kapi‘olani, the queen consort of King David Kalakaua, is home to the Waikiki Shell and the Honolulu Zoo. ... is the 162nd day of the year (163rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Royal Hawaiian Band is the oldest and only full-time municipal band in the United States. ...

A favorite floral parade feature is the traditional royal paʻu riders. They represent a royal court led by a queen on horseback, followed by princesses representing the eight major islands of Hawaiʻi and Molokini. Each princess is attended by paʻu ladies in waiting. Paʻu women are dressed in colorful and elegant 19th century riding gowns accented with lei and other floral arrangements. Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ...

After the parade, the state celebrates a Hoʻolauleʻa, literally Celebration, or block party with food and music. Cultural exhibitions are also scattered throughout Kapiʻolani Park — arts and crafts, games, sports and other events planned by the Bishop Museum, the premier Hawaiian cultural institution. The Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum is home to the worlds largest collection of Polynesian artifacts. ...

Draping ceremony

The most important ritual dates back to 1901 after the Territory of Hawaiʻi was established. It is the evening draping ceremony in which the Kamehameha Statue in front of Aliʻiolani Hale and ʻIolani Palace on King Street in downtown Honolulu is draped in long strands of lei. The same is done at the Kamehameha Statue on the former monarch's home island, the Big Island of Hawaiʻi. Outside of the state, a similar draping ceremony is held at the United States Capitol where the Kamehameha Statue there is also draped in lei in the company of federal officials. Year 1901 (MCMI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday [1] of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... The Kamehameha Statue stands prominently in front of Aliiolani Hale in Honolulu, Hawaii. ... AliÊ»iōlani Hale is today the home of the HawaiÊ»i State Supreme Court and the statue of Kamehameha the Great. ... Downtown Honolulu is the current and historic central part of Honolulu—bounded by Nu‘uanu Stream to the west, Ward Avenue to the east, Vineyard Boulevard to the north, and Honolulu Harbor to the south—situated within the larger Honolulu District. ... Woman wearing a lei and making the shaka sign Lei is a Hawaiian word for a garland or wreath. ... The United States Capitol is the capitol building that serves as the seat of government for the United States Congress, the legislative branch of the U.S. federal government. ... The Kamehameha Statue stands prominently in front of Aliiolani Hale in Honolulu, Hawaii. ...

Celebration

The celebration includes a traditional Pa‘u Parade and a Ho‘olaule‘a. The celebration is organized by the Kohala Hawaiian Civic Club.

Sources

• King Kamehameha Celebration Commission
• Kohala Kamehameha Day Celebration