LIHUE — The pu will announce the arrival of the King’s Court Saturday during the King Kamehameha Day Celebration on the luau grounds of the Kauai Marriott Resort &Beach Club.
“The event itself almost did not happen this year,” said Kimo Perry of The Royal Order of Kamehameha, Chapter No. 3 “Kaumuali‘i.” “But we felt strongly that it needed to happen and have done our best to organize this streamlined version for this year.”
The Royal Order of Kamehameha is teaming with the Kauai Museum, the County of Kauai, the Kauai Marriott Resort and the Hawaii Tourism Authority to present the celebration starting at 10 a.m. and continuing until 1 p.m. It is free.
The Kaumuali‘i Chapter of the Royal Order of Kamehameha will be there, said Kaianikumai O Na Ali‘i Hanohano, known in the community as Brudda Branch Harmony.
He said statewide parades and commemorative events sponsored in part by the state’s King Kamehameha Day Commission are covered by news media and social media.
“Yet, there is no current involvement of that sponsorship from the state commission — they have not included Kauai’s Celebration in its publicity,” he said.
The program will open with cultural demonstrations with an opening pule.
Activities include poi pounding, the creation of a Ni‘ihau shell bracelets and earring, the creation of a puka shell bracelet, fresh floral lei making, coconut frond weaving, and discussions about niu, or the coconut.
“Kauai continues the heritage of this recognition, commentating the life, and history of the man who established the ‘Kingdom of Hawaii,’ uniting and governing this archipelago,” Harmony said.
The King’s Court will make its protocol procession at 11:30 a.m. followed by performances by Wallis and Shana Punua’s halau.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
