Kamehameha Day Celebration

Directions to the Kamehameha Statue and Festivities

All events of the North Kohala Kamehameha Day Celebration take place in and near the town of Kapa‘au on the northern tip of the Big Island of Hawai‘i.

Statue Ceremonies
The original statue of Kamehameha I stands above Akoni Pule Highway on the lawn of the Civic Center in Kapa‘au.
The statue can be viewed year-round. The statue is draped with lei on the morning of June 11, 2008, and the flowers remain in place only as long as they are fresh.

Floral Parade
The floral parade starts at the entrance to Ainakea in Kapa'au at 9 a.m. and proceeds down Akoni Pule Highway to the Kohala Cultural Center on Hawi Hill Road.
During the parade Akoni Pule Highway will be closed between the entrance to Ainakea in Kapa‘au to Hawi Hill Road (Route 250) in Hawi, reopening about 10:30.

Ho'olaule'a Music Festival
The ho‘olaule‘a takes place at the Kohala Cultural Center in Hawi between 10:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Map North Kohala Getting there from Kona
To get to the Kamehameha Day Celebration from Kona or the Kohala Coast, drive north on Queen Kaahumanu Hwy (19) to Kawaihae Road intersection. Turn left. After 1 mile veer right onto Hwy 270 (Akoni Pule Highway) for the 20-mile coast drive to Hawi and Kapa‘au.

Getting there from Hilo
From Hilo, drive north on the Mamalahoa Hwy (19) through Waimea. Veer right onto the Kohala Mountain Road (250) for the 20-mile mountain drive to Hawi or Kapa‘au.

For Best Viewing
To enjoy the full day of events, arrive early and leave your car in Kamehameha Park in Kapa'au. From there, it's a short walk to parade viewing and statue ceremonies.
After the parade, drive back to Hawi for afternoon food, exhibits, and music at the Kohala Cultural Center, 55-522 Hawi Hill Road. Parking will be marked.

Kamehameha Day in North Kohala: All are invited, all events free, always on June 11th.

Most photographs courtesy of Laura Shimabuku, Akamai Photographic of Kailua-Kona.