A Warm Aloha Welcome
to
(the weekend of)
Kamehameha Day,
June 11th
Here in
HAWAII
&
For The First Time
(Courtesy of locally born
President Barak Obama)
Throughout the USA!
Click on the images today!
Today the Royal Societies
(With the help of the Honolulu Fire Dept
that was founded by King Kalakaua)
Drape the "Lonely One's" statue with lei of love
and gratitude.
Last weekend, Hawaii folks did the same to the one at
statuary hall in the US capitol.
"Americans... still believe in an America
where anything's possible -
Thanks, Barak!
You loved that lei draped statue growing up too,
didn't you?
<:>
No one knows the day of his birth,
or the Big Island (Hawaii) place
where his bones were laid to rest.
Full of MANA, spiritual energy,
they were hidden away in the old way
by an ancestor of the family
that cares for the Royal Mausoleum
here in Honolulu today
(the new way).
He was born, a young Ali`i (chief)
among others,
in a traditional world.
As a boy,
he was present to experience
aliens landing:
Captain Cook.
He saw the need for Hawaii to unify
in order to survive
in a suddenly larger world
or opposing powers.
Using western and traditional weapons
except the kingdom of Kauai
which joined through treaty.
200 years ago he established the
Hawaiian Kingdom,
recognized as a sovereign nation
throughout the world.
The USA celebrated Bicentennial
was back in 1976.
Hawaii is a young nation in comparison!
Of course, we are now a US State,
but the Kingdom lives in our hearts
by acclimation & defacto affection.
Yet it is real-
like the Kingdom of Heaven.
June 11th was chosen over 100 years ago
to be his special commemorative day.
It also falls close to my birthday.
Me and Kamehameha:
together in Hawaii-
it was meant to be!
This year, the floral parade
will run" backwards,"
ending at his statue downtown
rather than starting there like usual
and ending here in Waikiki.
It's also different because our locally born President,
Barry,
has proclaimed this King Kamehameha Day
throughout the USA
for the first time ever!
It is a day to celebrate Hawaii's contributions
to the World.
The President mentioned
The Law of the Splintered Paddle
in his proclamation
(you may read it below).
Once, the great warrior was traveling by foot
up the coast of his Big Isle (my first Hawaii isle too).
He and his companions came upon a fisherman
who jumped up (seeing warriors)
and hit the closest one (yep, Kamehameha)
so hard with his paddle that it splintered.
The High One's companions would have killed the man
but their leader stopped them.
Like the blow of a Zen staff,
the shock had transmitted
a great insight to him.
He declared that warriors
would never harm non-combatants
from that day.
He made Hawaii a respected nation,
rather than colony fodder.
And so we celebrate our first king
Kamehameha the Great
on this
his special day.
I'll get you some good parade pictures!
:)
><>
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
June 10, 2010
Presidential Proclamation-- King Kamehameha Day
Two hundred years ago, King Kamehameha the Great brought the Hawaiian Islands together under a unified government. His courage and leadership earned him a legacy as the "Napoleon of the Pacific," and today his humanity is preserved in Ke Kanawai Mamalahoe, or "the Law of the Splintered Paddle." This law protects civilians in times of war and remains enshrined in Hawaii's constitution as "a unique and living symbol of the State's concern for public safety."
On this bicentennial King Kamehameha Day, we celebrate the history and heritage of the Aloha State, which has immeasurably enriched our national life and culture. The Hawaiian narrative is one of both profound triumph and, sadly, deep injustice. It is the story of Native Hawaiians oppressed by crippling disease, aborted treaties, and the eventual conquest of their sovereign kingdom. These grim milestones remind us of an unjust time in our history, as well as the many pitfalls in our Nation's long and difficult journey to perfect itself. Yet, through the peaks and valleys of our American story, Hawaii's steadfast sense of community and mutual support shows the progress that results when we are united in a spirit of limitless possibility.
In the decades since their persecution, Native Hawaiians have remained resilient. They are part of the diverse people of Hawaii who, as children of pioneers and immigrants from around the world, carry on the unique cultures and traditions of their forebears. As Americans, we can all admire these traits, as well as the raw natural beauty of the islands themselves. Truly, the Aloha Spirit of Hawaii echoes the American Spirit, representing the opportunities we all have to grow and learn from one another as we carry our Nation toward a brighter day.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 11, 2010, as King Kamehameha Day. I call upon all Americans to celebrate the rich heritage of Hawaii with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this tenth day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.
BARACK OBAMA
