Kamehameha Day, a state holiday to honor a king

2010 Kamehameha lei draping ceremony in Hilo © 2014 All Hawaii News

Kamehameha Day was established by royal decree on December 22, 1871 by King Kamehameha V as a national holiday.

Kamehameha Day was created to honor the memory of Kamehameha, the king’s great grandfather, who united the Hawaiian Islands in 1810 and became Hawaii’s first king. The first celebration occurred on June 11, 1872.

Today, celebrations, parades and hula are held throughout the island chain. Events generally kick off with a ceremony draping long strands of lei over the King Kamehameha statues present on several Hawaiian Islands.