Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 19, Number 6, 1 June 2002 — Ua ʻIke Anei ʻOe ? [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Ua ʻIke Anei ʻOe ?

(Did you Know?)

"When did we start celebrating Kamehameha Day?

In 1872, King Kamehameha V issued a royal proclamation naming June 11 a Hawaiian nahonal holiday in memory of his grandfather, Kamehameha I, also know as "Kana'iaupuni," the conqueror. It was the king's intent to rival the July 4 holiday celebrated by the American community in the islands at that time. King Kamehameha V was a strong advocate for Hawaiian eultural practices, and insisted that his grandfather's memory be honored before the foreign community's celebration. June 11 is not the birthday of Kamehameha. Kamehameha was bom at Kokoiki in Kohala, but the month and year are not certain. Kamakau gives 1736 as Kamehameha's birth year. Others cite 1758. Mele or chants of Kamehameha's birth give 'Ikuwā as the month of birth, when the surf roars and the skies thunder. Kepilino states that 'Ikuwā correlates with October, however, other scholars contend that month designations varied slightly from island to island. Hau'oli lā Kamehameha iā kākou a pau!

Kamehameha statues in Honolulu and Kohala will be draped with impressive lei June 7.

Kamehameha I

Kamehameha V