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King Kamehameha III -- Lei Draping Ceremony

HONOLULU -- The City and County of Honolulu and the Mayor's Office of Culture and the Arts are pleased to pay tribute to aliʻi Kauikeaouli who was later known as Kamehameha III. The City will be hosting a formal lei draping in his honor on Thursday, March 17, 2022 at 9:00 am. The ceremony will take place in the newly beautified Thomas Square Park on Victoria Street, where the monument to King Kamehameha III proudly stands.

Kauikeaouli was the longest reigning monarch in the Hawaiian Kingdom, ruling for nearly 30 years. He is well-known for transforming the government of Hawaiʻi from an absolute monarchy to a constituional monarchy, and for introducing the first written laws to the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi. Kauikeaouli's government was responsible for helping to end the infamous British occupation during the Paulet Affair in 1843. Later that same year, he dispatched a Hawaiian delegation to secure the Anglo-Franco Proclamation which formally recognized the Hawaiian Kingdom as an independent nation. Kauikeaouli is also credited with Hawaiʻi's state motto: "Ua mau ke ea o ka ʻāina i ka pono," or "The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness."

It was under Kauikeaouli that the first iteration of the Royal Hawaiian Band got its start. Known then as The King's Band, it was led by Coswig native, Henry Berger and was a staple at state functions and numerous community parades. Kauikeaouli also established the Honolulu Fire Department in 1850 which was headed by W. C. Parke. In later years, King Kalākaua served in an engine company of the Honolulu Fire Deparment.

The Royal Hawaiian Band will be providing prelude music to the ceremony. Invited guests, community organizations, and the public will have the opportunity to offer hoʻokupu at the foot of the monument.

For more information, comments, or questions -- please send via email to: moca-info@honolulu.gov

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