King Kamehameha Day in Hawaii (11/06)

Today there is reason to remember one of the US states, which is almost four thousand kilometers away from the mainland of the country. Every year on June 11 in Hawaii, as well as in some areas of the United States, one of the oldest public holidays, King Kamehameha Day, is widely and noisily celebrated.

King Kamehameha Day was proclaimed in 1871 by King Kamehameha V in honor of his great grandfather — King Kamehameha I or, as it is more commonly called, Kamehameha the Great. According to the royal decree, King Kamehameha Day was first celebrated on June 11, 1872. Interestingly, this Day was one of the first holidays that was proclaimed after Hawaii received the status of the 50th state of the United States in 1959.

Kamehameha the Great was the reigning monarch of Hawaii from 1782 until the very last day of his life, May 8, 1819. He is very well known and respected by the people for his contribution to the unification of the islands and the founding of the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1810.

Also during his reign, laws were passed to uphold human rights during hostilities. Kamehameha the Great went down in history as an honest and stable politician. Interestingly, the king's name translates as «lone» or «loneliness», and sometimes the ruler is called «Napoleon of the Pacific».

Traditionally, the festive events of the royal day include fairs, carnivals, sports competitions, as well as equestrian races. One of the favorite spectacles of both locals and tourists is the Honolulu Flower Parade, during which the statue of the Great Monarch is luxuriously decorated with traditional Hawaiian garlands of flowers.

Many government offices and schools are closed on this day, and public transport operates on a reduced schedule. Some shops may also be closed.

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