In pictures: Kamehameha Schools honors its namesake during the Kamehameha Day holiday weekend

June 14, 2023

ʻAʻohe hana nui ke alu ʻia. No task is too big when done together. This ʻŌlelo Noeʻau perfectly describes the effort that went into the celebrations of Kamehameha ʻEkahi. Volunteers gathered in Kaiona at Kawaiahaʻo Plaza, cheerfully taking up the kuleana of cleaning lauaʻe, ti leaves and other greenery which was then woven masterfully into beautiful lei. The next day, more nā hoa hana strung hundreds of plumeria to create several more lei. These volunteers wove in aloha and positivity into everything they did. 

On Friday, these hoʻokupu were ready to be presented. Led by Kamehameha Schools CEO Jack Wong, a delegation carefully carried these lei from Kahaiahaʻo Plaza to the Kamehameha ʻEkahi statue at Aliʻiolani Hale. After the traditional protocol, these lei were carefully draped on the statue.

This labor of love continued into the weekend as dozens more KS staff, kumu and haumāna took part in the Kamehameha Day Floral Parade. It was a celebration befitting our beloved mōʻi.