Kamehameha Day Celebrations

[opihikao]

There will be lots of festivities across Moku o Keawe, Hawai'i Island, celebrating King Kamehameha Day.

Hilo will have a draping of the statue on Bayfront, and Kohala will host their celebration as his birthplace. Kona has a parade, and much more. Have a safe holiday and enjoy the cultural aspect.


Kamehameha Festival Official link:

http://www.kamehamehafestival.org/

Big Island Now Article:

http://bigislandnow.com/2013/06/09/north...of-a-king/


King Kamehameha was not a perfect man (some believe him to have been a "barbaric tyrant"), however, he was a King... "Conqueror of the Islands". When we were little kids, the hapa haole song, "King Kamehameha" was one of our first hula. (lol)

The mele (song) below, is "Kamehameha Trilogy", dedicated to the King, and within the lyrics, his words :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYkt3-5o8ac

"Imua e na poki'i"!


Enjoy the holiday, and be safe all. Aloha kekahi I kekahi.

Please feel free to add stories, legend, festivities not listed above, or opinion (be nice, please).

JMO.

[bystander]

Is it true that the Hawaiians in Kau do not celebrate Kamehameha day? I heard that to this day, they don't forgive him for the betrayal of their chief Keoua.

I found this old article.

http://archives.starbulletin.com/2008/05...tsumi.html

I did a quick google search and could find nothing about any kind of parade or other event anywhere in Kau.

http://www.bigislandreale.com/big-island...-festivals

[opihikao]

Aloha, bystander. Good question! There is lots written about Keoua, and this version comes the closest to Kupuna stories":

http://www.sacred-texts.com/pac/hlov/hlov23.htm

Another interesting version here below, claims Kamehameha was perhaps not directing the assassination of Keoua: (*Snipped - More at link/BBM)


http://www.nps.gov/puhe/learn/historycul...tories.htm

Many questions have been raised as to why Keoua willingly entered the camp of so bitter an enemy. Fornander believed that the defeat of Kamehameha's enemies in the battle of Kepuwaha'ula'ula probably influenced Keoua to try to negotiate with Kamehameha. [70] Perhaps Keoua realized the political and religious significance of this heiau and surmised that with its completion his fate was sealed. Whether his death occurred by or against Kamehameha's wishes is also disputed. After critically examining the statements of a variety of early native and foreign writers on the subject, Fornander concludes that


it is impossible to acquit Kamehameha of complicity in the cruel death of Keoua. It must have been planned in his council. It was executed by three of his highest chiefs and most trusted counsellors. The deed itself took place in his presence and within sound of his voice; and there is no mention, tradition, or hint that he ever disapproved or regretted it, or in the slightest manner rebuked or punished those who treacherously enticed Keoua away, or him who actually stabbed him. [71]

Whether planned or not, the assassination of Keoua gave Kamehameha undisputed control of Hawai'i Island by 1792. In early 1795 Kamehameha took Maui, Lana'i, and Moloka'i.


Of note, Pele was believed to have taken Kamehameha "under her wing", and protected him as a favored child. (*In the link above, too).

These kinds of questions make for good historical research. Mahalo.

JMO.

P.S. Our OHA Trustees are draping the King's statue in Washington, D.C. FWIW.

[Rourk]

Thank you Opihikao for sharing the link to the song.

[opihikao]

Rourk, my pleasure.

Hope everyone enjoyed the holiday, and spent time with loved ones. Beautiful day in Hawai'i nei!



And so it goes that Kamehameha was born in 1758, the year Halley’s Comet made an appearance over Hawaiian skies. Kamehameha was born in Paiea on the Big Island of Hawaii. His father was said to be Keoua, a grandson of Keaweikekahialiiokamoku, who once ruled a large portion of the island. Translated, Kamehameha means “the lonely one.”

Another legend tells of a kahuna who prophesized that the man who moved the 7,000-pound Naha Stone would become the greatest king of Hawaii. When Kamehameha was 14, the story goes, he moved the massive rock, and then lifted it and turned it completely over.



As to our Puna, King Kamehameha, it is told, created "Mamalahoe Kanawai" the "Law of the Splintered Paddle", after an incident in Puna:


"Many more battles ensued. During one raid in Puna, Kamehameha slipped and caught his foot in a crevice of lava. Seeing this, one of his fleeing opponents returned and beat him on the head with a canoe paddle until it broke. As a result, Kamehameha proclaimed Mamalahoe Kanawai, or “Law of the Splintered Paddle,” providing protection to unarmed noncombatants in war. “Let the aged, men and women, and little children, lie down safely in the road,” his law decreed."


Ending the day with a little bit of history, as close as it comes to being told by our kupuna:


Kamehameha's iwi (remains), Ho’olulu surreptitiously extracted and removed Kamehameha’s casket from atop the Ahu’ena heiau. He made the trek down to an undisclosed beach where he met Hoapili in a canoe. The two of them, chaperoned by Keopuolani who was known to be Kamehameha’s favorite wife, rowed their canoe to an undersea cave, which until this day, has never been discovered.


The song "Waika" (derived from the original chant linked above), was also dedicated to the King, and his great love for Hawai'i, and his people. A beautiful version of "Waika" by the Brothers Cazimero below:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_J-ADVILNo


He Inoa no Kamehameha!




(*Several links to back up some of the above, but peeps tease when I post links, and more links...lol.) So, JMO. []

ETA: typo; glasses, please!