Page 10 - 150th King Kamehameha Day Celebration - Hilo

10 150TH KING KAMEHAMEHA DAY
H ilo celebrates, honors King Kamehameha
From page 9
“Ka ‘Ahulei O Kamehameha,” which is hosted by Kamehameha Schools Alumni Association, East Hawai‘i Region, will take place at the town’s King Kamehameha land- mark statue on Bishop Street. Before the lei draping ceremony, guests will be treated to the sights and sounds of the Hawai‘i County Band.
While King Kamehameha Day will be celebrated throughout the state, being that the king had roots in Kohala, festivities that take place on Hawai‘i island hit a bit closer to home.
“You can expect to see and be a part of traditional cultural protocol and an oppor- tunity to present lei or ho‘okupu, which will be draped on King Kamehameha’s outstretched arms,” says Micah Alameda, president of Kamehameha Schools Alumni Association, East Hawai‘i Region. “This cultural event is a massive part of our mis- sion and being able to honor and mahalo King Kamehameha I is a big deal for our kūpuna and our community.”
Since the Kamehameha Schools Alumni Association is hosting the lei draping cer- emony in honor of King Kamehameha the Great — the school’s namesake — the event is especially significant to the organization.
“The Hilo statue holds special meaning to the Kamehameha Schools Alumni Asso- ciation Māmalahoa Chapter as its members were responsible for fundraising to bring that statue to Hilo from Kaua‘i in the ‘90s,” adds Desiree Moana Cruz, Hawai‘i island commissioner of King Kamehameha Cele- bration Commission.
To Alameda’s knowledge, the alumni as- sociation has hosted the lei draping ceremo- ny every year since 1998 — except for the past two years due to the COVID-19 pan- demic.
“We are elated to have the ceremony back this year,” Alameda shares. “We would like to mahalo the Kamehameha Schools Ha- wai‘i Campus for their continued kōkua.”
For more information, please visit ksaaeasthawaii.org/events.