Big Island events to honor king

Advertiser Staff

Kamehameha the Great will be honored at several celebrations on the Big Island.

West Hawai'i's annual King Kamehameha Celebration Floral Parade will be held at 9 a.m. today, starting at the intersection of Ali'i Drive and Walua Road fronting the Royal Kona Resort. The parade will proceed north on Ali'i Drive through Kailua village and end in the vicinity of the Old Kona Airport.

A ho'olaule'a will follow at Old Kona Airport soccer field.

Tuesday, a lei-draping ceremony will be held at the Kamehameha statue in Hilo's Wailoa State Park. Mayor Harry Kim will participate along with students from Kamehameha Schools' East Hawai'i campus.

Wednesday, an 8 a.m. parade will kick off a daylong Kamehameha Day celebration. The parade route is from the statue in Wailoa State Park to Coconut Island. Live music, food and crafts will be presented until 5 p.m.

Similar activities are planned that same day in Kohala, birthplace of the famed ali'i who united the Hawaiian Islands.

Leis will be draped over the famous lifelike statue of the king in Kapa'au starting at 7:30 a.m. A pa'u princess parade will begin at 9 a.m., from Kohala High School to the statue and on to Kamehameha Park, where food, music, educational displays and cultural demonstrations will be available until 3 p.m.