March 12, 2026

Kamana Beamer (second left) is a returning as a guest speaker in this year’s festivities.

Hawaiʻi Island’s annual tribute to Kamehameha III is moving to Kahaluʻu Ma Kai, part of the Keauhou and Kahalu‘u regions renowned for their deep ties to the Hawaiian Kingdom and its enduring cultural richness.

“This area was a very special place in Hawaiʻi’s culture in the days gone past,” said Kaimana Barcarse, KS’ director of sites and facilities.

The one-day birthday celebration on March 21 will feature music, speaker panels and free activities for the whole ʻohana, along with a special equinox ceremony at one of the coastal heiau. Open to the public to witness, Piko o Wākea will be held at Hāpaialiʻi Heiau, which functioned as a solar calendar that helped kānaka ʻōiwi track seasonal changes essential to farming and fishing.
“This is where our chiefly and priestly lineages conducted services to assist them to petition the akua for success in warfare, in bringing about abundance of produce on the land as well in the kai,” KS’ natural and cultural stewardship manager Māhealani Pai said.

The event honors Kauikeaouli, whose leadership shaped the Hawaiian Kingdom during a time of immense change. During his reign, Hawaiʻi established its first written constitution and an education system that helped produce one of the highest literacy rates in the world in the 19th century. His actions and leadership also gave rise to enduring national observances, including Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea, marking the restoration of Hawaiian sovereignty in 1843, and Lā Kūʻokoʻa, commemorating the international recognition of Hawaiʻi’s independence later that same year.

Born at nearby Keauhou Bay, Kauikeaouli’s earliest years were shaped by the traditions of Kona. From heiau and sacred ponds to canoe landings and a hōlua slide, the Keauhou-Kahalu‘u coast reflects the depth of ʻike and stewardship that sustained generations of aliʻi and their people.

“All the ruling chiefs of Hawaiʻi Island, at one time or another, resided here on this landscape,” Pai said. “Looking back over…the accomplishments of the past[LK3.1], this is where they house the masters of the many different disciplines of Hawaiian culture.”

Today, that legacy continues through gatherings that bring community together to learn from the past and honor the leadership of Hawaiʻi’s aliʻi. This Kauikeaouli tribute invites ʻohana to experience the history of this place firsthand through cultural demonstrations, mele and opportunities to reflect on the enduring legacy of a king who helped strengthen the Hawaiian Kingdom.

For more event information: https://www.ksbe.edu/kauikeaouli
Discover the life and legacy of Kauikeaouli: https://waihona.net/#/collections/pSY3kO9wBTXGsj3DG0Qd
To explore artifacts of Keauhou in 3D: https://ks3d.org/gallery/c:koehana2018/view/gallery