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

Aloha to Hawaiian History - King Kamehameha Day

Hawaii celebrates King Kamehameha Day on June 11.   From Hawaii History (link),

Born at Kokoiki in North Kohala on the island of Hawai`i (in 1758), Kamehameha descended from chiefs of Hawai`i and Maui. As a young man, he distinguished himself as a talented warrior and served his uncle Kalaniopu`u, ruler of several districts on the island. A keen battle strategist and admirer of Western weaponry, Kamehameha later utilized guns and cannon to defeat his own enemies and consolidate his power in the Islands.

King Kamehameha is often referred to as the Napoleon of the Pacific.  By uniting the islands, he prevented them from becoming European and Asian colonies.   Also from Hawaii History,

Mamala Hoe (Law of the Splintered Paddle)

During a raid on Puna, Kamehameha pursued several fishermen and his foot got stuck in a rock crevice. Realizing the chief's disadvantage, one of the fisherman struck him on the head with a paddle which splintered. As the first fisherman prepared to strike Kamehameha again, the other fisherman made a plea to his companion to spare Kamehameha. Deeply moved by this incident, Kamehameha later proclaimed a law to protect the defenseless and to ensure the safety of travelers. A version of the law was incorporated into the state constitution in 1978.

The statue above was commissioned by the Kingdom of Hawaii in the early 1880s.   It was lost at sea enroute from Europe to Hawaii.   With the insurance payout, the Legislature cast a second statue which now stands in front of the Ali'iolani Hale (Justice Palace) as seen on Hawaii Five O (and pictured at the top).   The original statue awashed ashore in the Falkland Islands.  It was returned to Hawaii and erected near his birthplace near Kohala on the Big Island of Hawaii (link).  A third statue now stands in the US Capital Hall's Statuary Hall along side Father Damien (link).

Kamehameha's private heiau (temple) in Kona

To celebrate King Kamehameha Day, I offer my favorite romance books set in Hawaii:

Ophelia London's MAKING WAVES, a novella from the Perfect Kisses series.  A journalist and surfer learn to trust again on Oahu's North Shore; review link.

Chip Hughes' mystery series, the Surfing Detective, visiting the islands of Lana'i, Maui, Oahu, and the Big Island of Hawaii:

- MURDER ON MOLOKA'I, review link

- WIPEOUT!, review link 

- KULA, review link

- MURDER AT VOLCANO HOUSE, review link

Gina Robinson's THE SPY WHO LEFT ME:  Set on Maui, the heroine attends her cousin's destination wedding only to bump into her estranged husband under cover.  The couple endure every tourist trap, family bickering, and Chinese spies, ultimately bringing them back together for the HEA.   

Check out my interview with Gina at this link and my review at this link.

Jill Marie Landis' Tiki Goddess series.  Set on Kauai, a California woman relocates to the North Shore to save her uncle (from fortune hunters), the Tiki Goddess bar (from going under), and the Hula Maidens (from themselves).   Laugh out loud comedy true to the spirit of the Garden Isle.

MAI TAI ONE ON, review link

TWO TO MANGO, review link

THREE TO GET LEI'D, blurb link

TOO HOT FOUR HULA, review link

Jill Marie Landis' TROUBLE IN PARADISE, a novella bringing a bride and groom to Kauai, only to have their wedding plans disrupted by Mother Nature and Hawaiian lore; review link.

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

1.  Leave a comment about Hawaii - do you have a favorite place, food, drink, book, movie, or something else?

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, June 13, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, June 14.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City 

Celebrate Hawaii Week - King Kamehameha Day

Breaking News:  I have a new feature at USA Today's HEA BLOG ... State of Romance!  We'll explore the romances set in the featured state.   The first state is the last state to join the Union ... Hawaii ... at this link.

King Kamehameha Day is a state holiday in Hawaii.   Today the kama'aina (locals) will drape King Kamehameha's statues with lei to celebrate his legacy.  Born on the Big Island of Hawaii to the Royal Family, Kamehameha demonstrated his warrior prowess and leadership skills as he wrestled control of Hawaii from his cousin.   He then set forth to conquer Maui, Lana'i, Moloka'i, and Oahu.   The king of Kaua'i signed a peace treaty to prevent Kamehameha from bringing his fierce warriors to Kaua'i shores.   By 1810, the islands were united as the Kingdom of Hawaii.  

King Kamehameha is shrouded in many legends.  As a teenager, he lifted the sacred Naha Stone that weighs over two tons.  If he failed, he would have been executed.  But he succeeded, demonstrating that he was destined to be a great leader.

The Scouts pose in front of the Naha Stone.

For all the violence he engaged to unite his kingdom, Kamehameha also showed compassion.   He enacted the Kānāwai Māmalahoe - Law of the Splintered Paddle:

E nā kānaka,
E mālama ‘oukou i ke akua
A e mālama ho‘i ke kanaka nui a me kanaka iki;
E hele ka ‘elemakule, ka luahine, a me ke kama
A moe i ke ala
‘A‘ohe mea nāna e ho‘opilikia.
Hewa nō, make.

Oh people,
Honor thy god;
respect alike people both great and humble;
May everyone, from the old men and women to the children
Be free to go forth and lay in the road
Without fear of harm.
Break this law, and die.

This law became the foundation of human rights in Hawaiian law.  The crossed paddles appear in the badges of the Honolulu Police Department.   

Kamehameha "retired" to Kailua-Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii - the start and finish of the Iron Man competition.   

Kamehameha's private heiau
in Kailua Kona

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

1.  Can you recommend any books set in the State of Hawaii?  

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, June 14, 10 pm in Baltimore.   

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, June 15.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Check out pictures of the Big Island of Hawaii on my travel blog at this link, link, link, link, link, link, and link.

Kamehameha's statue in Kapaau