NOTICE: The 2021 Kamehameha Festival has been CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19
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.
___________________________________________________________________________________
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.