Kamehameha Day is a vital statewide celebration that honors the legacy of King Kamehameha I, who unified the Hawaiian Islands and laid the foundation for a sovereign Hawaiian nation. It is a time for communities across Hawaiʻi to reflect on the enduring values of leadership, unity, and cultural pride. Celebrating this day throughout the island strengthens connections to our shared history and perpetuates Hawaiian identity for future generations. 

This year's theme, “E Ho‘omau – celebrating Mary Kawena Pukui”, honors the lasting impact of one of Hawaiʻi's most revered cultural practitioners and scholars. Ho‘omau means to continue or perpetuate, which speaks to Pukui’s work in preserving ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, moʻolelo, mele, and ʻike kūpuna. Through her legacy of inspiration through education, we are reminded of the importance of cultural endurance and the power of knowledge passed from generation to generation. 

This year in a historic tribute, the U.S. Mint has honored Mary Kawena Pukui on the 2025 Native American $1 Coin. The coin's reverse features Pukui adorned with a hibiscus flower, kukui nut lei, and aloha-print muʻumuʻu, set against stylized water imagery. The inscription “Nānā I Ke Kumu” (“Look to the Source”) reflects her lifelong dedication to preserving and sharing Hawaiian knowledge.  

To see where you can celebrate Kamehameha Day this year check out: King Kamehameha Celebration Commission | State Foundation on Culture and the Arts 

This year, Hilo presents the 61st Annual Merrie Monarch Festival, honoring our 7th monarch and last king, David Kalākaua, from March 31 to April 6. The event is a celebration of more than just hula, but of Hawaiian language, music, and culture. It’s an excellent time to “shop local” if you’re in Hilo or tune in to the live stream on merriemonarch.com.

HVCB (formerly HVB) is proud to have been a supporter from the beginning.

Mr. Gene Wilhelm was the Administrative Assistant to Hawai‘i County’s Chair and Executive Officer (precursor to the mayoral position), Helene Hale. She brought members of the community together to discuss an event to promote tourism to Hilo. Various County departments, the local Chamber of Commerce, and the Visitors Bureau were all part of the original planning committee in 1963. Wilhelm was the first Chairman of the Merrie Monarch Festival committee, and former news editor of the Hilo Tribune-Herald.

Mr. Wilhelm was also involved with the HVB office on the Island of Hawai‘i and would later become the department’s director. Working with Mr. George Applegate, they eventually converted the HVB office into the Big Island Visitors Bureau, then renamed it to the Island of Hawai‘i Visitors Bureau in 2016.

For more information, visit: https://www.merriemonarch.com/history-of-the-festival/11

HVCB congratulates Aunty Luana Kawelu and the Merrie Monarch Festival on 61 years and looks forward to our perpetual partnership! E hula kākou!

Follow the HVCB Instagram @HVCB to enjoy up-to-date posts and stories during the festivities.

This month we celebrate the 184th birth of Hawai‘i’s last reigning monarch, Her Majesty, Queen Lili‘uokalani.

Hawaiian by blood, Hawaiian by heart and Queen by succession, Lili‘uokalani reigned over her kingdom with the dignity and pride befitting her title. She was destined to make a difference in the lives of all whom she came into contact with. We celebrate her birth this month, September 2, 1838.

The Western World had taken hold, and there seemed to be no turning back. This was a time when Hawaiians were forced to adapt to the tides of change. However, this prominent ali‘i wahine did her best to set an example. She lived in an era of great change and upheaval yet made great strides to overcome the adversity left on her doorstep.

Lydia Lili‘u Loloku Walania Wewehi Kamaka‘eha of the chiefly lines of Hawai‘i island, was born on September 2, 1838, in the shadow of Pūowaina (Punchbowl). Her parents were High Chiefess Keohokālole and High Chief Kapa‘akea. Her name was given to her in observance of her hānai mother’s aunt, Kīna‘u, who was suffering with pain in her eyes, or lili‘u, when the young Chiefess was born. Perhaps foreshadowing the feeling our Lili‘uokalani, as she was named upon ascending the throne, would later feel as her own eyes burned with tears of sorrow as her kingdom was overthrown. 

Though not a direct member of the Kamehameha ‘ohana, she was a distant cousin and had strong ties to the Dynasty. Lili‘uokalani was placed into the home of a Kamehameha as she was given at birth to Abner Pākī and Laura Kōnia, a granddaughter of Kamehameha I. Little did she know that one day she would rule the kingdom her hānai family had established.

King Kalākaua was her older brother, and besides his mother and wife, no other woman had greater influence over him than his sister Lili‘u. As he strived to forge a name for himself and his ‘ohana he faced challenges no other monarch before him had. Unfortunately, she would outlive him, only to watch his empire begin to unravel before her eyes.

Lili‘uokalani was a woman of strength. Like her brother, she had an excellent command of the English language and like her sister-in-law, Queen Kapi‘olani, was a generous and hospitable hostess. Lili‘u however was faced with obstacles and impossible challenges from the beginning of her brief reign. She did not have the luxury of watching her husband rule the land like her sister-in-law. She was the ruler, and her decisions would determine the fate of her people. It was a huge responsibility she had been born to shoulder. Later in life, after the Provisional Government had dethroned her, she would set up a Trust for the preservation of the Hawaiian race. In 1909 the Queen, living as a private citizen, laid the groundwork for the Queen Lili‘uokalani Children’s Center to benefit destitute orphans with preference for those of Hawaiian ancestry.

She was a great musician and loved to sing. Aloha ‘Oe, Sanoe, and Ku‘u Pua I Paoakalani were some of her more notable compositions, composed while unjustly imprisoned in the ‘Iolani Palace. She was also very accustomed to the etiquettes and dance styles of Europe and America. Yet she never forgot who she was or where she came from. Lili‘uokalani supported Kalākaua’s goal and motto, “Ho‘oulu Lāhui,” or increase and multiply the nation, and had her own motto that further emphasized her desire to see the race survive. Lili‘uokalani believed in being “‘Onipa‘a,” or “Steadfast,” something she did her entire life.

The Mō‘ī Wahine was as great an influence on the people of Hawai‘i then as she is today. Noble of birth and noble of heart, Lili‘u personified Hawai‘i’s Monarchy era with grace and dignity. She stood for what was right, for what was just and for what it meant and means to be Hawaiian.

Her definition of aloha can be found in today’s state constitution as part of the Aloha Spirit Law HRS § 5-7.5, “Aloha means to hear what is not said, to see what cannot be seen and to know the unknowable.” A beautiful description of what each of us should aim to live up to. E ola ka Mō‘ī Wahine – Long live the Queen!

By: Kainoa Daines

We celebrate and honor the birthday of Hawaiʻi’s second delegate to Congress, affectionately known as “Prince Cupid” because of his cherubic façade. Prince Kūhiō was born in Kōloa, Kauaʻi in 1871. He was the youngest of three sons of Kauaʻi High Chief David Kahalepouli Piʻikoi and Princess Kinoʻiki Kekaulike, younger sister of Queen Kapiʻolani. He served as the Territory of Hawaiʻi’s delegate to Congress from 1903 to 1921. In 1918, he established the first Hawaiian Civic Club to stimulate civic efforts and education within the Hawaiian community and to promote Hawaiian culture. Today there are over 60 Hawaiian Civic Clubs nationwide.

Because King Kalākaua and Queen Kapiʻolani had no children of their own, Jonah Kūhiō, Edward Keliʻiahonui, and David Kawānanakoa were legally adopted and given the rank of Prince. Thus, he was in line to the throne before the monarchy was overthrown in 1893.

In addition to the Hawaiian Civic Club movement, he resurrected the Royal Order of Kamehameha I after the noble organization went underground after the overthrow, and reinvigorated King Kamehameha Day festivities.

A few of his major accomplishments include a $27 million federal appropriation for the dredging and construction of Pearl Harbor and the establishing of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

A graduate of Oʻahu College (now called Punahou School), Kūhiō is best remembered for his success in Congress passing the 1920 Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, providing homesteads for Native Hawaiians. He believed strongly in his Uncle David’s philosophy, “Hoʻoulu Lāhui – Increase the Nation.” He planned to return Hawaiians to the land, encouraging them to be self-sufficient farmers, ranchers, and homesteaders on leased parcels of reserved land, just as their ancestors had done. The act was officially signed into law by President Harding on July 9, 1921 – this year marking its 100th anniversary.

Kūhiō was also known as Ke Aliʻi Makaʻāinana or “The Citizen Prince,” because of his love for his people. He died of heart disease on January 7, 1922, at the age of 50, and is laid to rest today at Maunaʻala, the Royal Mausoleum in Nuʻuanu Valley on Oahu.

Let’s remember that Kūhiō is more than a highway on Kauaʻi, an avenue running through Waikīkī, or a mall in Hilo. He was a leader, a thinker, a doer, a Prince, a man with great foresight, and a proud son of Hawaiʻi!

As we say a hui hou to Ianuali, we get mākaukau to welcome Pepeluali! Although celebrated and spoken daily, each year Hawaiian Language is higlighted during the month of February as we celebrate Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi- Hawaiian Language Month.

Designated by Governor Abercrombie in 2012, Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi is the perfect time and opportunity for many of us to learn, practice, strengthen and share the Native language of our islands. Whether you know a little or know lot, the best thing you can do is try!

Need some kōkua? Check-out the list below for some easy hopuna ʻōlelo to slowly incorporate ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi into your daily routines:

• Aloha kakahiaka- Good morning
• Aloha e ke hoa!- Hi friend!
• Mahalo nui- Thank you very much
• I kōkua paha nāu?- Need some help?
• ʻAʻole pilikia- No problem
• E ʻai kākou- Letʻs eat!
• E kelepona mai- Give me a call
• He aha kāu leka uila?- Whatʻs your email?

For more kōkua, keep in touch with your kaiāulu for the latest events that are happening throughout the month. From Zippyʻs to Windward Mall, there are several events to celebrate Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi. Laki maikaʻi!

Additional Kōkua:

• ʻAha Pūnana Leo
• Kanaeokana
• Puke Wehewehe
• ʻŌiwi TV
• Instagram: @ehoopilimai
• Maʻemaʻe Toolkit 

July 31 – Lā Ho‘iho‘i Ea, Sovereignty Restoration Day commemorates the return of Hawai‘i’s sovereignty from rogue British subjects in 1843. This national holiday was celebrated from 1843 until 1867 when King Kamehameha V later replaced it with Kamehameha Day in 1872.

On July 31, 1843, King Kamehameha III proclaimed the words, “Ua mau ke ea o ka ‘āina i ka pono,” to an assembled crowd at a park in Honolulu where the Union Jack was lowered and ka hae Hawai‘i (the Hawaiian flag) was raised once again. Hawaiian sovereignty was restored by Queen Victoria’s emissary, Rear Admiral Richard Thomas. The Admiral had been sent to investigate the folly of Lord George Paulet, an English sea captain who unlawfully claimed the kingdom of Hawai‘i as an occupied colony of Great Britain.

Recent Legislation passed in 2022, officially re-designating July 31 as Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea or Sovereignty Restoration Day as law.

Aloha Nowemapa kākou! As we transition into this Makahiki season, we are reminded that not only is this a time to gather with ʻohana, but it is also an opportunity to rest, reflect, and find the rejuvenation we all need to be the best hoʻokipa for our kamaʻāina and malihini.

During the next few months, think about your kuleana both in work and at home, and the intentions you set for them. Celebrate the victories and continue to work hard on the little things that can be improved. Rember to be ʻoluʻolu, mālama others, and always show aloha during this Makahiki season. Ola ʻo Lonoikamakahiki!

For more information on Makahiki, please visit: Kaʻiwakīloumoku: Makahiki Overview

As defined by the Pukui & Elbert Hawaiian Dictionary, lōkahi translates to “unity, agreement, accord, unison, harmony.”

Lōkahi is an agreement in unified sentiment and feeling. It’s a sense of oneness. It’s the ideal that we each bring something to the table, that we each have something to contribute, that we all matter and have a say. Through lōkahi, we aim to seek a balance amongst the input.

The Hawai‘i Revised Statues § 5-7.5 “Aloha Spirit Law” defines lōkahi, as unity, but “expressed with harmony.” Two individuals can be singing the same song, but if they’re singing in different keys, they might sound pretty awful. Finding the right melodic balance is vital for the song to work.

Through ‘ōlelo no‘eau (Hawaiian proverbs and wise sayings), let’s glean a deeper understanding of the concept of lōkahi:

‘A‘ohe hana nui ke alu ‘ia – No task is too big when done together by all. – #142

Ho‘okahi ka ‘ilau like ana – Wield the paddles together. – #1068

If everyone is out of rhythm and paddling at their own pace, the canoe will never reach its destination in a timely fashion, or at all. Dip in together and pull together. It’s the only way to move forward.

Ho‘omoe wai kāhi ke kāo‘o – Let all travel together like water flowing in one direction. – #1102

Pick a direction that works and move in that direction for the success of the greater good.

Pūpūkahi i holomua – unite in order to progress. – #2758

Listening with your heart and not just your ears will help you to achieve the balance and harmony needed for any successful endeavor. Lōkahi is about finding that sweet spot so we can move forward for the greater good.

*‘ōlelo no‘eau #977

You may have read the words, “Ua mau ke ea o ka ‘āina i ka pono,” on the Hawai‘i state seal, the back of the 2008 minted US Hawai‘i quarter, or in any number of places around the islands. You may have heard the words uttered at an assembly in school or sung in Israel Kamakawiwoole’s famous “Hawaii ’78.”
 
The Hawaii state motto is one of the few US state mottos not in English or Latin. It’s a Hawaiian phrase uttered by a Hawaiian King back in the 1840s when Hawai‘i was an independent monarchy.
 
On July 31, 1843, King Kamehameha III proclaimed the words, “Ua mau ke ea o ka ‘āina i ka pono” to an assembled crowd at a park in Honolulu where the Union Jack was lowered and ka hae Hawai‘i (the Hawaiian flag) was raised once again. Hawaiian sovereignty was restored by Queen Victoria’s emissary, Rear Admiral Richard Thomas. The Admiral had been sent to investigate the folly of Lord George Paulet, an English sea captain who unlawfully claimed the kingdom of Hawaii as an occupied colony of Great Britain.
 
The King appreciated the assistance of Admiral Thomas and announced the famous phrase, which for so long has been translated to, “the life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness,” but Hawaiian language scholars have begun to rethink that translation. Ea means not only “life,” but “breath” and, more importantly, “sovereignty.” Profound to think the one word, ea, could define the King’s intentions so eloquently and reconnect Hawaiians to the living, breathing, sovereign land of their kupuna.
 
It was adopted as the motto of the Hawaiian Kingdom from that point on and the motto of the State of Hawai‘i in 1959.
 
The site of this proclamation was named in the Admiral’s honor. Today Thomas Square is the oldest city park in Hawaii and one of four sites in the Hawaiian Islands where the Hawaiian flag can fly alone without the United States flag because of its Hawaiian national significance.

Remember the invitation, for it gives you the privilege of coming here. A person feels welcome when accepting an invitation and friendly promises. – ʻŌlelo Noʻeau 349

We, Hawaiʻi’s visitor industry are the ones extending that invitation to visitors to come to our shores, to feel welcome and taken care of – mālama.

Mālama means, “to take care of, tend, attend, care for, preserve, protect, beware, save, maintain; to keep or observe, as a taboo; to serve, honor, care, preservation, support, fidelity, loyalty; custodian, caretaker, keeper.” www.wehewehe.org

During these turbulent times, we have so many things we can be grateful for and need to mālama; ourselves, our loved ones, colleagues, and this destination we have the privilege of promoting and calling our home.

Homework: Take a quiet moment and think about how you can mālama Hawaiʻi both personally and professionally?

Send your response to membership@hvcb.org for possible inclusion in an upcoming HVCB publication.

The lei, made of a variety of materials, is the personification of aloha. It embodies the welcome, the connection, the depth that aloha is between the giver and the recipient.

Excellent articles for your perusal:

Kamehameha Schools:

https://www.ksbe.edu/article/the-history-of-may-day-and-lei-day-in-hawaii

City & County of Honolulu:

https://www.honolulu.gov/rep/site/dpr/leiday_docs/Brief_History_of_Lei_Day.pdf

https://www.honolulu.gov/parks/program/182-site-dpr-cat/1685-lei-day.html

Hawai‘i Magazine:

https://www.hawaiimagazine.com/how-may-day-became-lei-day-in-hawaii/

Office of Hawaiian Affairs:

https://www.oha.org/news/may-days-gone/

What will your organization be doing to celebrate Lei Day on May 1st? Let us know by tagging HVCB and #MayDayIsLeiDay in your social media posts.

Duke Paoa Kahanamoku was born on August 24, 1890. He grew up swimming and surfing in Waikīkī near the current Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort. Discovered as a swimming sensation, Duke's legend began when he broke the world record in the 100-yard freestyle during his very first competition. The prodigious Duke went on to win Olympic gold in the 100-meter freestyle and silver in the relay in 1912. He also won two gold medals in 1920 and won a silver medal at age 34 in the 1924 Olympics.

Read more at
https://www.gohawaii.com/islands/oahu/regions/honolulu/duke-kahanamoku-statue.

Also, take a deeper dive into the sport and spirit of surfing at https://youtu.be/gIqZNUOZyw0.