Honoring King Kamehameha

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs joined in celebrations in June honoring King Kamehameha, who unified the islands in 1810. Parades, ho‘olaule‘a and lei-draping ceremonies were held statewide in the king’s honor. Celebrations weren’t limited to Hawai‘i, however, with scores gathering some 5,000 miles east of the Islands, for the annual lei-draping ceremony in Washington, D.C.’s Capitol Visitor Center. Kamehameha I is remembered both for his prowess in war and for his humanity. His Känäwai Mämalahoe, or Law of the Splintered Paddle, lives on in the state Constitution, which calls the decree “a unique and living symbol of the state’s concern for public safety.” Pictured is the King Kamehameha statue in downtown Honolulu during festivities on June 8, where OHA and many other groups paid tribute and presented beautiful lei for the occasion. – Photo: Francine Murray