HAWAI'I'S GREATEST NATIVE LEADER AND UNITER TO BE HONORED
The Honolulu Advertiser - Thursday, June 10, 2004
Hawai'i Island Events To Honor Ali'i Nui Kamehameha Paiea This Holiday Weekend
HAWI, Hawai'i - The Big Island will honor its native son, Kamehameha I, with a number of events over the three-day holiday weekend.
North Kohala will observe Kamehameha Day tomorrow with a parade and ho'olaule'a.
Kamehameha the Great was born in 1758 in Koloiki, North Kohala, and would establish a united kingdom by 1810. A statue of the king at Kapa'au is a well-visited tourist attraction.
The celebration will open with a ceremony at 8 a.m. at the statue, with Na Papa Kanaka
O Pu'ukohola and members of the Ka'ahumanu Society participating. An oral history of Kamehameha will be presented, along with hula, music, ho'okupu and the draping of lei.
A parade starting at 9 a.m. will make its way from Hawi to Kamehameha Park. The ho'olaule'a runs from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the park, with exhibits, entertainment and food.
Also tomorrow, the Big Island Council of Hawaiian Civic Clubs and others will conduct
anti-drug sign-waving from 3 to 5 p.m. at several locations. The Waimea club will be at the historic "Church Row" park; the Kohala club, near the statue in Kapa'au; the Kona, Kuakini and Ka'u clubs, below Wal-Mart in Kailua; the Honoka'a and Laupahoehoe clubs, in Honoka'a town; and the Hilo and Prince David clubs, at the Hilo bayfront.
The clubs conduct public service projects on holidays honoring ali'i.
On Saturday in Kailua, a floral parade on Ali'i Drive will begin at 9 a.m. at the Royal Kona Resort. A ho'olaule'a from noon to 4 p.m. at the Kona Inn's makai lawn will feature music and dance by Waimea's Beamer-Solomon Halau O Po'ohala and Hoku-award-winning singer Darlene Ahuna, along with Kamakele "Bulla" Kailiwai, winner of the Big Island Aloha Festival's Kindy Sproat Falsetto Singing and Storytelling Contest, and
the Kekai Boyz from Keaukaha.
Admission is $5; free for children under 12. No coolers will be allowed. Money raised from the event will help to send the halau's keiki dancers to the Mokihana Hula Festival on Kaua'i in September. For information, call Malama Solomon at (808) 885-3553.
On Sunday, the Daughters of Hawai'i will present a free concert at 4 p.m. at Hulihe'e Palace. Music will be by the Merrie Monarchs and the Hulihe'e Palace Band. Seating is limited, so people are advised bring a beach mat or chair.
