Kamehameha Day

Kamehameha Day on June 11 is a public holiday honoring Kamehameha the Great, the legendary king that united the Hawaiian Islands to establish the Kingdom of Hawaii. The holiday was first established by royal decree in 1871 by Kamehameha V. The holiday was first observed the following year. Kamehameha Day continued to be celebrated after the overthrow of the monarchy in 1893 and through the years of the Territory of Hawaii. The State of Hawaii currently celebrates it with elaborate festivals featuring hula competitions, parades and prayer. One of the most important rituals on June 11 is the draping of the Kamehameha Statue in front of Aliiolani Hale with fresh flower lei. Similar draping ceremonies are celebrated the Kamehameha Statues on the Big Island of Hawaii and at the United States Capitol.