Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Kamehameha Day Parade


A  L  O  H  A !
Along The Way To Waikiki by Harry Owens & Royal Hawaiians on Grooveshark

Kamehameha,
 called 'The Great' and 'The Lonely One'
 was born between 1748 and 1761
 on the island of Hawaii. 

 In 1871 his grandson,
 King Kamehameha V, 
 designated - by royal Proclamation- 
that June 11 of each year
 was to be a perpetual  holiday here in the isles
 to honor the life and accomplishments
 of Hawaii's founding statesman,
 warrior, conqueror,
  and king. 





Kamehameha Schools Letter Girls

 It is said that Kamehameha fulfilled ancient traditional prophecies
 of a high Chief who would vanquish all other chiefs
 to become the greatest of all  in Hawai`i. 

His childhood was spent in seclusion with
 foster parents. 
In accordance with a 
strikingly Arthurian legend,
 the boy Kamehameha lifted 
the 5,000 pound Naha stone
 at age 14, 
the only person ever to do so. 

The legend states that the one who lifts it 
was the prophesied warrior
 who would unite all of the islands.

 The Naha Stone rests today
 in front of the Hilo Public Library
 on the island of Hawaiʻi.









 After a stormy period  of contention, 
the island of Hawai`i was under unified rule
 by 1791.
 Kamehameha was favored by the old gods
 in a clear, strategic way, 
when a rival chief's warriors
 on their way to attack, 
were overtaken by a flowing lava outbreak!
  The imprint of their feet
 may be seen yet today 
in the hardened lava flow.










Members of Royal Societies

By 1810,
 the last of the chiefs
 of the islands of Maui, 
O`ahu and Kaua`i 
relinquished sovereignty
 to Kamehameha.

 The Kingdom of Hawai`i was born













 For the rest of his life,
 Kamehameha I wisely ruled 
a dizzy-ingly transitional period 
in peace. 
He established Hawaii
 as a recognized nation,
 launched trade with other countries,
 introduced new animal and plant life,
 promoted agriculture 
and fostered industry. 












Daughters of Hawaii

The "Napoleon of the Pacific"
 died in Kailua-Kona 
on the island of Hawai`i 
in 1819.



























The first Kamehameha Day
 was observed on June 11, 1872, 
 with horse races,
 velocipede, sack, wheelbarrow, 
and foot races too!








  2012 marks the 140th anniversary
 of the only  United States holiday
 that honors a royal.











This year's 96th annual
 floral parade
  began at ʻIolani Palace
 in downtown Honolulu,
moved up Ala Moana Boulevard 
 and into Waikīkī, 
ending in a big party
 at Kapiʻolani Park.
 [incidentally, June 11
 is also the anniversary 
of this great Park's dedication]  











Traditional royal paʻu riders
 represent a time
 when royal's on horseback
 toured their realm,
visiting the people.


 Women display 19th century 
riding gowns,
 skirts draped in pa`u style
cunningly fastened
 with Kukui Nuts!






Hawaiian Cowboy by Honolulu Session Singers on Grooveshark


Riders are bedecked with lei
 and other floral arrangements, 
as are their mounts.

Hawaiian cowboys,
called 'Paniolo'
were roping & riding
before many places
considered 'western'
on the continent!

What would country music
 BE
without the twangy
Hawaiian Guitar?

Some Paniolo
became famous rodeo
stars in the 'States.'
































This fellow 
plays an important role
 in the equestrian parade!









Woop!  
 There IT IS !
























The Chinese
 were early immigrants
 to the Kingdom.

It wouldn't be Hawaii
without the 'Celestials'
their food, work ethic, 
and culture.











What a day to be a happy kid












- of ANY age!











Some of us have to
 learn
to be happy
as we grow
older






































Thanks for visiting
and celebrating with us!

Take Away Fun - Leave a Comment

                                  Warmly, cloudia
!!PARADE VIDEO BELOW!!

21 comments:

Joop Zand said...

Whow, thats very nice too see
thanks for sharing this wonderful serie.

Greetings, Joop

黄清华 Wong Ching Wah said...

Amazing story of 'The Great'!

the walking man said...

Everybody loves a parade...I personally loved the garland around the shit can. That's one way to ensure the horse shit doesn't stink.

Akelamalu said...

Such an interesting post Cloudia, thankyou. x

Reader Wil said...

What a great celebration and tradition! Thanks for sharing this with us all!
Have a great week !

Teresa said...

Great pictures, Cloudia! The parade first thing made me smile. My favorites are the kids in the covered wagon, the Chinese model mother on the cell phone, and the "most important" people in the equestrian parade.

PerthDailyPhoto said...

A very happy Kamehameha Day to you Cloudia, thank you for showing the colourful, vibrant celebrations so that we can see how Hawaii celebrates it's 'royalty'.

T. Becque said...

I was just out your way (Kauai) and now miss it so much. What gorgeous and wonderful islands Hawaii has!

Myrna R. said...

I feel like I attended the parade, which looks like it was lots of fun. Thanks for the history and the pics. I know you had a fun day.

Charles Gramlich said...

Lovely pics. Looks like fun was had by all! It's been ages since I've been to a parade.

Cloudia said...

Thanks Cowboys & Girls!

Tammie Lee said...

that is quite a history

Bob Bushell said...

Lovely festival.

Brian Miller said...

wow thanks for showing us all the sights...it is pretty cool how it mirrors the arthurian legend as well...aloha from va!

Anonymous said...

What an island where comfort does parade ! Thank you for letting us be part very much. Please have you all a good Wednesday.

Hattie said...

Fantastic. An aside about the stone legend says Kamehameha lifted. Vandals scrawled it with graffitti a while ago, and a friend of ours did a great job of cleaning it up. You would never know now that it had been desecrated.
Hmm. I should take a picture of it and post it.

RONW said...

nice pics. Did you get to shake hands with the mayor, too? I give him credit for walking the entire parade route.

TALON said...

How gorgeous! What a fabulous parade, Cloudia!

Marguerite said...

Beautiful colors and parade! Thanks for sharing these lovely pics and day! Cheers!

Elephant's Child said...

What a lovely tribute, and as usual wonderful photographs.
(The footprints in lava made me squirm though).

Cloudia said...

what a great parade of Visitors today!


Thanks Dears