King Kamehameha Day Festivities From Maui to DC

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard delivers remarks to honor the legacy of King Kamehameha at the annual lei draping ceremony in Washington, DC. Courtesy photo.

By Wendy Osher

A 44th annual re-dedication and lei draping ceremony was held over the weekend in Washington, DC at the statue of King Kamehameha I, located in the Capitol Visitors Center.

The ceremony was held ahead of today’s Kamehameha Day holiday, which honors King Kamehameha I and his role in unifying the Hawaiian Islands in 1810.

In remarks at the ceremonial event, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard said, “Today is an opportunity to reflect in a very personal way about how we can learn from the example that he set as one of our original and first servant-leaders…”

She continued saying, “His great achievement, his great lesson for all of us, was his conquest of these warring islands and his ability to unify many different people with unique backgrounds, unique cultures, unique values and bringing them together as one people of Hawai‘i under his leadership.”

Others in attendance included members of the Hawai‘i State Society of Washington, DC, as well as state and federal leaders.

In observance of King Kamehameha Day on Maui, the Royal Order of Kamehameha hosts a march beginning at 9 a.m. today from the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College to Hoaloha Park.

A separate observance is planned this weekend in West Maui.  Nā Kamehameha Commemorative Pāʻū Parade & Hoʻolauleʻa is planned from 9 a.m. to sunset on Saturday, June 15.

The event is held each year around the Kamehameha Day holiday in June, and honors the Kamehameha lineage with a parade and hoʻolauleʻa.