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Kamehameha Day 2026: Parades, Floral Floats + Lei-Draping (June 11)

AlohaCalendar Editorial|May 23, 2026

Kamehameha Day 2026: June 11

Kamehameha Day is celebrated on June 11 every year as an official Hawaii state holiday honoring King Kamehameha I, who unified the Hawaiian Islands under a single rule between 1795 and 1810. He is the founding figure of the Hawaiian Kingdom and one of the most significant leaders in Pacific history. June 11 is a state holiday — government offices, schools, and many businesses are closed.

In Honolulu, the day is marked by two major public events: the Floral Parade and the Lei Draping Ceremony. Both are free.

The King Kamehameha Floral Parade

The King Kamehameha Floral Parade is one of the most beautiful parades in Hawaii. All floats are decorated exclusively with fresh flowers and natural foliage. The parade winds through downtown Honolulu along King Street, then continues through Waikiki on Kalakaua Avenue to Kapiolani Park.

The parade features:

Floral floats representing each island and various civic organizations
The Kamehameha Parade Court on horseback — an ali'i (royal) tradition
Hula halau performing as they walk
Marching bands from Hawaii's high schools and colleges
Pa'u Riders: Women on horseback wearing flowing pa'u skirts — each island represented by its own color and flower

The parade begins around 9am in downtown Honolulu and concludes in Kapiolani Park by midday. Arrive early — the route fills fast, especially near the downtown start and the Waikiki stretch.

Pa'u Riders: The Parade's Living Symbol

The Pa'u Riders — women on horseback wearing long, flowing silk skirts that drape over the horse's back — are one of the most distinctly Hawaiian parade traditions. Each island has its own color and lei flower:

Oahu: Yellow, with ilima flowers
Maui: Pink, with lokelani (rose) flowers
Hawaii Island: Red, with lehua (ohia) flowers
Kauai: Purple, with mokihana berries
Molokai: Green, with white kukui flowers
Lanai: Orange, with kaunaoa (air plant)
Niihau: White, with white pupu shells

The Lei Draping Ceremony

Following the parade, a lei draping ceremony is held at the large King Kamehameha statue in front of Ali'iolani Hale (the Hawaii State Supreme Court building) in downtown Honolulu. The statue is draped with enormous lei — some measuring 18 feet long — made from thousands of fresh flowers. Visit in the afternoon when the display is complete — the statue will be nearly buried in fresh flowers.

Similar ceremonies are held at the King Kamehameha statue in Kapaau (North Kohala, Big Island) — the original casting — and at the Lahaina statue on Maui.

Practical Tips

June 11 is a state holiday — plan for reduced services but most tourist businesses remain open
Arrive at the parade route 45 minutes early for a good sidewalk spot; the Pa'u Riders section draws the largest crowds
Visit the lei-draped statue at Ali'iolani Hale in the afternoon for the best photo opportunity
Wear a lei — it is appropriate for any Hawaii state holiday

**Kamehameha Day** is one of two state holidays unique to Hawaiʻi (the other is Prince Kūhiō Day, March 26). It honors **King Kamehameha I**, the aliʻi who unified the Hawaiian Islands into a single kingdom in 1810. The holiday has been celebrated since 1872 — making it older than most U.S. state holidays.

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