The Kamehameha Festival is part of the Kamehameha Day celebration that was established in 1872 as a national holiday of the Kingdom of Hawai‘i. Today the Festival continues to honor the memory of Kamehameha who united the Hawaiian Islands in 1810 to became Hawai‘i’s first King. The Festival will be held on June 11, 2009 (Kamehameha Day) in Hilo, Hawaii on Moku Ola (Island of Life) from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. This historic and culturally significant event is enjoyed each year by thousands of island residents and visitors from around the world.
The 2009 Festival will feature some of Hawai‘i’s top entertainers including Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award winners Cyril Pahinui, and Kainani Kahaunaele, hula hālau, Hilo’s first ho‘okuku oli (Hawaiian chant competition), hō‘ike ha‘a koa (dance of the warrior exhibition), food, cultural presentations, and art and craft booths. Proudly presented by the Royal Order of Kamehameha I, Māmala Hoa (Hilo Chapter), the Festival is free and open to the public and is an alcohol, substance, and tobacco free event. For more information, please visit KamehamehaFestival.org
