NEWS RELEASE – The 2023 Kamehameha Festival has been CANCELLED due to an absence of available State of Hawaii funding.
However, the Royal Order of Kamehameha I, Heiau o Māmalahoa is hosting a FREE community event to honor and celebrate our aliʻi Kamehameha I on Sunday, June 11, 2023, at the Kamehameha statue in Hilo from 9:00a to 3:00p. All are invited and welcome to participate in and attend this celebration. The festivities will start with a hoʻokupu and lei draping protocol at 9:00a followed by a lineup of local hālau hula and musicians. Please bring your own hāliʻi and/or noho and picnic to enjoy the entertainment of the day. If you or anyone you know would like more information or to participate and contribute to this celebration, please contact Kākāʻōlelo, Kapua Francisco at kakaolelo.mamalahoa@gmail.com. E hele mai kākou!
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Aloha and welcome to the Kamehameha Festival (Festival) website.
The Festival is part of the Kamehameha Day celebration that was first established in 1871 as a national holiday of the Kingdom of Hawai‘i. Kamehameha Day was created to honor the memory of Kamehameha the Great (c. 1758-1819) who united the Hawaiian Islands in 1810 to became Hawai‘i’s first King.
Today the Festival continues to pay tribute to Kamehameha and acts to protect, preserve, and perpetuate, the Hawaiian culture. The Festival features traditional Hawaiian dance, music, chant, practices, arts and crafts, and ‘ono (delicious) food, that are enjoyed by thousands of island residents and visitors from around the world. Proudly presented by the Royal Order of Kamehameha I, Māmalahoa (East Hawai’i Chapter), the Festival takes place every year on Kamehameha Day (June 11) in Hilo, Hawai‘i on Mokuola (Coconut Island). A day of Aloha for the entire family, the Festival is free and open to the public and remains a drug, alcohol, and smoke, free event.
Please go to NEWS RELEASE for the most updated event information.
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Note: Māmalahoa recognizes the use of diacritical markings of the (modern) Hawaiian language including the ‘okina [‘] or glottal stop and the kahakō [-] or macron. Māmalahoa recognizes the importance of using these markings to preserve the language and culture of Hawai‘i and respectfully uses them in all communications including this website.