King Kamehameha Day in Hawaii
King Kamehameha Day, celebrated annually on June 11, is a state holiday in Hawaii that honors King Kamehameha I, the monarch who unified the Hawaiian Islands into a single kingdom in the early 19th century. The day serves as a commemoration of Kamehameha's significant role in establishing a unified government for the archipelago, which had previously been fragmented among various chiefs. The holiday was first proclaimed in 1872 by Kamehameha V to pay tribute to his grandfather.
Kamehameha's rise to power involved a series of military campaigns across the islands, ultimately leading to the consolidation of his rule over all Hawaiian Islands by 1810. His reign is remembered for fostering stability, trade, and agricultural development, alongside efforts to restore traditional religious practices. Following his death in 1819, the Hawaiian monarchy continued under his descendants until the late 19th century.
Celebrations of Kamehameha Day often include parades, floral ceremonies, and cultural events, reflecting the deep respect for Kamehameha's legacy and the historical significance of the Hawaiian monarchy. The observance of this holiday provides an opportunity for both residents and visitors to engage with and appreciate Hawaiian history and culture.
King Kamehameha Day in Hawaii
King Kamehameha Day in Hawaii
In Hawaii the citizens have set aside June 11 as an annual state holiday on which to celebrate the memory of King Kamehameha, who united the Hawaiian Islands into a single kingdom.
For centuries the Hawaiian archipelago with its native Hawaiian inhabitants remained isolated from the rest of the world. Then, in 1778 the English explorer Captain James Cook commanded the first European ships to visit the islands. Cook named his discovery the Sandwich Islands in honor of the first lord of the Admiralty, the earl of Sandwich. In the years that followed Cook's visit, an ever-increasing number of American and European vessels plied the Pacific, and many visited the Sandwich Islands. For the most part the Hawaiians received the foreigners hospitably. They replenished the ships' supplies of food and water, and in return received metal tools, armaments, and other trade goods.
Kamehameha I, who was to bring the islands under a unified government, was a powerful warrior and the nephew of Kalaniopuu, the king of the island of Hawaii itself. Shortly after the death of his uncle in 1782, Kamehameha (whose date of birth is uncertain) became the leader of the chiefs of the western part of the island, and with their assistance he defeated his cousin King Kiwalao at the battle of Mokuohai. The victory gave Kamehameha and his allies undisputed control of the northwestern part of the island of Hawaii.
In 1782 and again around 1785 Kamehameha tried to conquer the remainder of Hawaii, and in 1786 he launched an attack against the neighboring island of Maui. These efforts were not successful. Kamehameha returned to western Hawaii and during the next four years accumulated a sizable supply of European arms. Then, in 1790 Kamehameha resumed battle. This time he subdued Maui, Lanai, and Molokai, but before he could complete his campaign his cousin Keoua, the brother of Kiwalao, attacked his territory on the island of Hawaii, thereby forcing Kamehameha to return to Hawaii to protect his lands.
By the summer of 1791, Kamehameha had defeated Keoua and gained control of the entire island of Hawaii. However, while Kamehameha was fighting to secure and expand his holdings on Hawaii, the chiefs of the leeward islands rebelled. Kahekili and Kaeo, the kings of Molokai and Maui, respectively, even attempted to invade Kamehameha's territory on Hawaii, but were defeated and forced to return to Maui.
Peace reigned in the islands for several years. Then in 1794 King Kahekili, who controlled Maui, Lanai, Molokai, and Oahu, and who indirectly ruled Kauai, died. Within a short time after Kahekili's death, his brother Kaeo and his son Kalanikuple were at war. When Kaeo threatened to attack Kalanikuple, the latter king appealed to the commanders of the three British and American ships then at Honolulu for assistance. The commanders gave Kalanikuple ammunition and advice, and with this aid he defeated Kaeo.
Emboldened by his successful victory over Kaeo, Kalanikuple decided to attack Kamehameha on Hawaii. To aid in this venture, Kalanikuple seized the two British ships that had previously assisted him, and on January 12, 1795, the vessels, with the king and his chiefs on board, put to sea. However, Kalanikuple's plot was foiled. Soon after the ships left the harbor two British mates retook the vessels, put Kalanikuple and his queen adrift in a canoe, and then steered a course for Hawaii. Kamehameha seized the opportunity afforded by the failure of Kalanikuple's operation. Quickly gaining possession of Maui and Molokai, he pushed northward to Oahu. Kalanikuple's warriors on that island valiantly resisted Kamehameha's forces, but by the summer of 1795 Kamehameha had won control of the island.
After 1795 only the island of Kauai and its dependency Niihau remained outside Kamehameha's jurisdiction. The aggressive king attempted an invasion in 1796, but had to postpone it when he lost most of his canoes in the tempestuous seas between Oahu and Kauai. Later in the year Kamehameha returned to Hawaii to put down a rebellion, and so Kauai was again spared.
Kamehameha remained on Hawaii until 1802, building a fleet of special double canoes and acquiring a stockpile of military equipment to ensure his victory in the next attack on Kauai. Then, Kamehameha took his army and fleet to Maui, and late in 1803 or early in 1804 he moved to Oahu to launch the invasion. However, an epidemic decimated his forces before he could assault Kauai.
Kamehameha finally acquired Kauai by peaceful means. As early as 1805 he appealed to King Kaumualii to recognize his sovereignty and to pay him an annual tribute. The Kauaian leader was willing to accept these terms, but, fearing for his life, he refused Kamehameha's demand that he make his submission in person at Oahu. In 1810, through the mediation efforts of an American trader, Captain Nathan Winship, Kaumualii finally agreed to go to Oahu. There he recognized Kamehameha as his suzerain.
Having unified the islands under his rule, Kamehameha returned to his native island of Hawaii in 1812. During the last years of his life he lived mainly at Kailua, in the Kona district of the island. The Hawaiian archipelago remained peaceful and stable, and Kamehameha devoted his time to encouraging trade and agriculture, to rebuilding the heiaus (temples to the gods), and to pursuing his favorite avocation, fishing.
The kingdom founded by Kamehameha the Great, as he came to be known, lasted almost 100 years. After his death in 1819 his son Kamehameha II succeeded him as ruler of Hawaii. Kamehameha II outlawed the traditional taboo system and welcomed the American traders and missionaries. Upon the death of Kamehameha II, his brother Kamehameha III became king. The liberal Kamehameha III ruled the island for 30 years, and during that time he organized a constitutional government and undertook a program whereby land was more equitably distributed amongst the archipelago's inhabitants. The last direct descendants of Kamehameha I to rule the Hawaiian Islands were his grandsons: Kamehameha IV, whose reign lasted from 1854 to 1863, and Kamehameha V, who ruled from 1863 to 1872. Control of the archipelago then passed to Lunalilo, who ruled for only one year and was succeeded by Kalakaua. He died without an heir in 1891, thus allowing his sister Liliuokalani to assume the throne. Ousted by a coup in 1893, she was Hawaii's last royal ruler.
Today, Hawaiians recall the creation and early history of the Hawaiian kingdom and Kamehameha I's importance as the unifier of the islands. It was in 1872 that Kamehameha V proclaimed June 11 a day to honor his grandfather. The day is still celebrated every year as Kamehameha Day, a legal holiday in Hawaii and an occasion of great festivity.