2025 King Kamehameha celebrations

The 153rd Annual King Kamehameha Day holiday will be observed with festivities statewide. This year’s celebration theme is “E Hoʻomau – Celebrating Mary Kawena Pukui.” On Maui, Nā King Kamehameha Commemorative Pāʻū Parade and Hoʻolauleʻa will take place on June 21, 2025.

On Oʻahu, the annual celebration of King Kamehameha Day begins with the Lei Draping Ceremony on Friday, June 13, at 2:30 p.m. fronting Aliʻiōlani Hale. Expect to see cultural protocols and pageantry, along with beautiful hand-made lei being draped on the outstretched arms of King Kamehameha. Enjoy the music of the Royal Hawaiian Band and performance by Hālau Mōhala ʻIlima.

During the reign of King Kalākaua, last king of the Hawaiian Kingdom, a statue honoring Kamehameha I was commissioned in Florence, Italy to commemorate the founder of the Kingdom. On its way from Europe, the ship carrying the bronze statue sank off the Falkland Islands. Fortunately, insurance covered the cost of casting a second statue.

In the meantime, the first statue was recovered, and Honolulu soon had two statues. To honor the birthplace of Kamehameha, King Kalākaua gifted the original statue to the people of Kohala. The second statue proudly stands in front of Aliʻiōlani Hale, home to Hawaiʻi’s Supreme Court and the King Kamehameha V Judiciary History Center.

All are welcome to join the regal women of ʻAhahui Kaʻahumanu in stringing 30-foot plumeria lei to serve as a base of lei on the statue—a tradition that has been carried on by these gracious ladies for nearly as long as the statue has stood. Donation of loose plumeria flowers will be accepted at 8 a.m. 

Then the 108th King Kamehameha Celebration Floral Parade will take place at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 14, 2025. The event features floral floats, marching bands and pāʻū riders on horseback as well as representatives from Hawaiʻi’s Royal Societies.

As in year’s past, the parade will take a route beginning at King Street fronting ʻIolani Palace. Participants will then head down Punchbowl Street, before making a left on to Ala Moana Boulevard and eventually Kalākaua Avenue. The parade comes to a finish at Monsarrat Avenue and Queen Kapiʻolani Park. Streets will begin to close in Downtown Honolulu at 7:30 a.m., with closures coinciding as the parade moves along the route, several blocks before its approach. The parade is expected to reach Kapiʻolani Park around 11:30 a.m.

Also, on Oʻahu on June 14, the King Kamehameha Celebration Hoʻolauleʻa will take place at Kapiʻolani Park where the parade ends on Kalākaua Avenue. The event is from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with free admission as well as food booths, family friendly activities and more. Enjoy Hawaiian cultural activities, hula, live entertainment, cultural activities, games, education, demonstrations and workshops.

2025 King Kamehameha Celebration Schedule of Events
*Information is subject to change

Maui

• Nā King Kamehameha Commemorative Pāʻū Parade (Kahului), June 21, 2025, 9:45 a.m.
• Nā King Kamehameha Commemorative Hoʻolauleʻa (Kahului), June 21, 2025, 9 a.m.

Molokaʻi

• King’s Gala, June 13, 2025, at Hiro’s ʻOhana Grill, Hotel Molokaʻi (Kaunakakai). 5–9 p.m.
• Hoʻolauleʻa, June 14, 2025, at Molokaʻi Community Health Center (Kaunakakai), 5–10 p.m.
• Molokaʻi Paniolo Heritage Festival, June 28, 2025, Molokaiʻi Ranch (Maunaloa), 9 a.m., Festivities continue after the parade at Kamehameha Park with food, music and hula.

Hawaiʻi Island

• Kona: King Kamehameha Celebration Floral Parade (Kona), June 7, 2025. 9 a.m. – 11:30 p.m. 
• Kona: King Kamehameha Celebration Hoʻolauleʻa, Huliheʻe Palace (Kona). June 7, 2025, 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Kohala:
  • Sunrise Protocol, 5:30 am 
  • Lei draping ceremony, 9 a.m.
  • Floral Parade, 9–11 a.m.
  • Hoʻolauleʻa, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  • Festivities continue after the parade at Kamehameha Park with food, music and hula.

Kauaʻi

• King Kamehameha Celebration Floral Parade (Līhuʻe), June 14, 2025, 9–10 a.m. Starts at Vidihna Stadium up Rice Street to the Historic County Building.
• King Kamehameha Celebration Hoʻolauleʻa (Līhuʻe), June 14, 2025, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Historic County Building Lawn

Oʻahu

• King Kamehameha I tribute at the statue of Kamehameha I, Aliʻiōlani Hale, (Honolulu), June 11, 9–9:30 a.m. Sponsored by the Daughters and Sons of the Hawaiian Warriors-Māmakakaua.
• King Kamehameha Statue Lei Draping (Honolulu), Aliʻiōlani Hale, June 13, 2:30–5 p.m.   
• 108th King Kamehameha Celebration Floral Parade (Honolulu), ʻIolani Palace to Kapiʻolani Park, June 14, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. 
• King Kamehameha Celebration Hoʻolauleʻa (Honolulu), Queen Kapiʻolani Park, June 14, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Support provided by the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority and the Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts. Lei Draping Ceremonies presented by the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts.  For more information and full list of upcoming King Kamehameha Celebration events please visit www.KamehamehaDay.Hawaii.Gov.