Today is King Kamehameha Day!

King Kamehameha Day is the only ali'i (royalty) holiday established during the monarchy and observed continually since its establishment by royal proclamation in 1871. The day is celebrated to honor King Kamehameha who unified the Hawaiian Islands and who stands as an exponent of Hawaiian self-determination. The first observance of this holiday was held on June 11, 1872. Kamehameha V designated June 11 as a public holiday to honor the memory of his great-grandfather who was the first ruler of the United Hawaiian Islands.

Kamehameha ("The Lonely One") was born between 1736 and 1758 in Kohala on the island of Hawaii. His father was Keoua Kupuapaikalani, chief of Kohala and a grandson of Keawe who once ruled over a powerful kingdom on the island of Hawaii. Kekuiapoiwa, Kamehameha's mother, was the daughter of a chief from Kona. The King was a courageous man of unbridled ambition. He became chief of his western Big Island district in 1781 and waged war against the other chiefs. He accomplished his mission of conquering all the islands, except Kauai which joined the kingdom voluntarily.

Kamehameha became the first ruler of the Hawaiian kingdom in 1795. During his reign, he encouraged his people to pursue agriculture to restore the ravaged land, and promoted the introduction of new animals and plant life into the islands. Kamehameha united the Hawaiian Islands into a single kingdom through war and diplomacy. However, there are some who believe that he was a ruthless opportunist who used Western weapons to kill his own people and seize power.

On Kamehameha Day we honor all things Hawaiian by paying homage to a great Ali‘i (chief or King) of Hawai‘i. While perhaps Hawai‘i’s greatest warrior, Kamehameha I was ultimately able to end war by his conquest of the islands. Once the islands were united, new laws were created to protect and preserve the peace and heiau (places of worship) were rededicated from war to peace. Kamehameha I loved a pious people and was known to be patient and kindly to his subjects, earning respect which continues to this day.