Kamehameha Day on June 11 is a public holiday of the state of Hawaii. It honors Kamehameha, The Great, the monarch who established the unified Hawaii.
The most important ritual performed this day, dates back to 1901 after the Territory of Hawaiʻi was established. It is the evening draping ceremony in which the Kamehameha Statue in front of Aliʻiolani Hale and ʻIolani Palace on King Street in downtown Honolulu is draped in long strands of lei. The same is done at the Kamehameha Statue on the former monarch's home island, the Big Island of Hawaiʻi. Outside of the state, a similar draping ceremony is held at the United States Capitol where the Kamehameha Statue there is also draped in lei in the company of federal officials.
Being an old geezer, I rather miss the celebration of events on the actual day. Giving folks an extra day off by making the Friday before a holiday, makes the day less special. TODAY is Kamehameha Day...
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