Saturday, June 11, 2016

Celebrate Hawai'i Week - King Kamehameha Day


Reminder: I have a special giveaway to celebrate June at this link.

Today is the 100th anniversary of the King Kamehameha Day Floral Parade.  From Hawaii.com (link),

In a traditional display of colors, each island float ... will be clad in its official hue. Look for a rainbow of color proceeding down Waikīkī’s famous Kalākaua Avenue. Niʻihau, the Forbidden Island, is white. Kauaʻi, the Garden Isle, is purple. Oʻahu, the Gathering Place, is yellow. Molokaʻi, the Friendly Isle, is green. Maui, the Valley Isle, is pink. Kahoʻolawe, the Target Island, is grey. Lānaʻi, the Pineapple Isle, is orange. And Hawaiʻi Island is red.



Celebrations on the other islands are listed here.  King Kamehameha Day celebrates the legacy of the warrior who united the eight islands into one kingdom. In honor of King Kamehameha, I offer eight illuminating facts which demonstrate why he is called Kamehameha the Great:

1. His full Hawaiian name is Kalani Paiʻea Wohi o Kaleikini Kealiʻikui Kamehameha o ʻIolani i Kaiwikapu kauʻi Ka Liholiho Kūnuiākea.

2. Kamehameha lifted the sacred Naha stone, fulfilling a prophesy that the one who could lift it would rule over the Hawaiian Islands.  Learn more about the legend of the Naha stone at this link.

Scouts pose with the Naha stone at the Hilo library

3. Kamehameha built the Puʻukoholā Heiau.  Today, it is a National Historic (link), 

Kapoukahi, a powerful kahuna from Kauaii, prophesized that war would end if Kamehameha constructed a heiau dedicated to the war god Ku at Pu'ukohola. In 1791, Keoua, Kamehameha’s cousin, was slain at Pu'ukohola, an event that according to prophesy, led to the conquest and consolidation of the islands under the rule of Kamehameha I.

4. After gaining control of the island of Hawai'i, Kamehameha defeated the ali'i on Maui, Moloka'i, and Lanai.  He landed on Oahu and pushed the defending army through the Nu'uanu Valley and over the pali (cliff).

Nu'uanu Pali 

5. Kamehameha attempted to invade Kauai twice, but the weather prevented his armada from paddling from Oahu. Still, the king of Kauai became a vassal of Kamehameha to avoid further attempts and bloodshed.  In the end, Kamehameha united the eight islands.

6. Kamehameha "retired" to Kamakahonu - his personal compound with a heiau (temple) on his home island of Hawai'i. Nearby is the start and finish of the Ironman World Championship Triathlon.  

Kamakahonu in Kailua Bay

7. The next four kings were named King Kamehameha II, III, IV, and V.  His descendant, Bernice Pauahi Bishop, left her estate in trust to create the Kamehameha Schools for Hawaiian children. 

8. For all his "fierceness", Kamehameha's first law protected the weak:

Ke Kanawai Mamalahoe – Law of the Splintered Paddle:


E hele ka `elemakule, ka luahine,
a me na kamali`i a moe i ke ala
`a`ohe mea nana e ho`opilikia.

Let the old men, the old women, 

and the children go and sleep on the wayside; 
let them not be molested.


King Kamehameha's statue stands outside Aliʻiolani Hale, home of the Hawaii State Supreme Court. His statue appears in the opening shots of the original Hawaii Five O and its reboot. Kamehameha will be draped in lei today! 

I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash to one randomly selected commenter. To enter the giveaway,

1. Leave a comment about your favorite flower.  Mine is the Bird of Paradise.

2. Comments are open through Saturday, June 18, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3. I'll post the winner on Sunday, June 19.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City


25 comments:

  1. I don't have a favorite flower but I do like roses

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  2. I like so many but peonies are a favorite. Thanks for the informative post.
    Carol L
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

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  3. I like so many but peonies are a favorite. Thanks for the informative post.
    Carol L
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

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  4. I really am not a flower lover but I would say a Lily.

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  5. I like prim roses and bleeding hearts

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  6. Calla Lilys are mine. Thanks for sharing the information about the islands and it's history.

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  7. It's a tie between orange blossoms and honeysuckle - love their scents and they grew around my childhood home.

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  8. I really like the purple iris, foxgloves, and lilies.

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  9. These flowers have my fav fragrances: Roses, Lily of the Valley, Honesuckle and Lilac.
    ladbookfan

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  10. I'm a big fan of the wildflowers here in my part of Texas: Bluebonnets, Indian Blankets, Black Eyed Susans, and Mexican Hats.

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  11. I like lots of flowers, but my favorite is the Iris - it's so velvety feeling. For scent I like Lily of the Valley.

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  12. Garduina and rioses
    Kimh

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  13. My favorite flower is the rose, because there are so many beautiful varieties and they all smell wonderful.

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  14. I love many flowers, tulips and orchids would be my favorite

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  15. I love roses, daffidils, tulips, lily of the valley, and orchids.

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  16. I have many flowers I like. One of my favorites is the iris. I have several varieties planted in my flower garden. I just wish they would bloom all summer.

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  17. I have many flowers I like. One of my favorites is the iris. I have several varieties planted in my flower garden. I just wish they would bloom all summer.

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  18. roses, gardenias, magnolias, tulips, lots of flowers

    denise

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  19. Is it strange that I don't have a favorite flower? I just...love them all :)

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