11 June 2023 , 04:32
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Every year the people of Hawaii come together to celebrate the father of the Hawaiian Kingdom, King Kamehameha I, with spectacular floral parades and leis draped over statues in his honour.
King Kamehameha was credited with uniting the Hawaiian Islands into one royal kingdom in 1810, following years of conflict. Legend prophesied he was destined for greatness from birth.
A light in the sky with feathers like a bird was set to signal the birth of a great chief, and historians believe Kamehameha was born in 1758 - the year Halley's comet passed over Hawaii.
After birth, he was hidden from warring clans. Having been named Pai'ea at birth, after the death threat passed he came out of hiding and was renamed Kamehameha - The Lonely One.
An oil painting from around 1815 of King Kamehameha (Granger/REX/Shutterstock)Kamehameha trained as a warrior, proving his legendary strength when he overturned the Naha Stone, which is said to have weighed between two-and-a-half and three-and-a-half tonnes.
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Warfare between chiefs across the islands was widespread at the time. In 1778 Captain James Cook arrived in Hawaii, and with the help of western weapons and advisors, Kamehameha won battles at Lao Valley in Maui and the Nu'uanu Pali on O'ahu.
In 1790 the fortress-like Pu'ukohola Heiau on the island of Hawaii was built, prophesising Kamehameha's conquest of the islands. In 1810, King Kaumuali'i of Kaua'i agreed to become a tributary kingdom under Kamehameha.
Kamehameha's success in unifying Hawaii was significant not only in the scale of its feat, but because if the islands remained under separate rule, they may have found themselves torn apart by western interests.
Today, there are four commissioned statues which honour King Kamehameha's memory. Every June 11, on King Kamehameha I Day, the statues are draped with flower lei to celebrate the great king. There's even a film in development, known only as 'The King', with Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson set to portray the great King Kamehameha.
Dwayne Johnson is set to portray King Kamehameha in an upcoming film (Instagram)June 11 was chosen by King Kamehameha V on December 22, 1871, as a national holiday to honour his grandfather. The people originally wanted to mark the legacy of Kamehameha V (also known as Lot Kapuaiwa) on his birthday, December 11.
However, the chief opted to honour his grandfather instead, and pushed the holiday as far away from his own birthday as he could - hence the date of June 11. The first Kamehameha Day was celebrated on June 11, 1872.
One of the biggest celebrations is an annual floral parade, which is held at different locations across Hawaii. This year will mark the 106th King Kamehameha floral parade.
On Saturday, June 10, there will be a celebration parade from 9am in Kona and another from 9am in Kaua'i. On Sunday, June 11, there will be a floral parade in Kohala.
The route for the main parade in O'ahu will begin at King and Richards Street fronting 'Iolani Palace. It will then head down Punchbowl Street before turning onto Ala Moana Boulevard and eventually Kalakaua Avenue.
King Kamehameha Statue with lei, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii Oahu, Hawaii (Getty Images)The parade will come to an end at Monsarrat Avenue and Queen Kapiolani Park. Streets will begin to close in downtown Honolulu from as early as 7.30am, though closures will coincide as the parade moves along the route, about several blocks ahead of its approach.
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At around 11am the parade is set to reach Kapiolani Park, with the day's celebrations running from 11am to 5pm with free admission.
There people can enjoy Hawaiian Cultural activities, hula, live entertainment, Hawaii-made products, food and more.