E hoʻolauleʻa pū mai! Celebrate Kamehameha Day with us!
SAVE THE DATE: Join us immediately following the 2026 Kamehameha Day Parade for a Day at the Palace and Ho‘olaule‘a on the beautiful grounds of Hulihe‘e! In the heart of the Historic Kailua Village, experience the rich traditions of Hawai‘i with a full day of live Hawaiian music, hālau hula, cultural demonstrations, and a variety of food and retail vendors. Bring your ‘ohana to share a day that honors culture, community, and the legacy of Kamehameha.
Self-guided palace tours are FREE for kama‘āina!
The roads close at 8:00am and the parade will start promptly at 9:00am along Ali‘i Drive.
E mākaukau! Get ready!
We recommend everyone dress comfortably and casually. Out of respect for our ali‘i, torsos must be fully covered before entering the Palace Museum. Sunblock, hats, and visors are highly recommended while enjoying the festival. Beach chairs and blankets welcomed, personal coolers not allowed.
Festival Entry & Palace Tours: Entry to Hanohano Huliheʻe 2026 is free.
Admission into the Palace Museum for Self-Guided Palace Tours are as follows:
$10.00 General
$5.00 Youth (5-12yrs)
FREE Children (4 yrs & Under)
FREE Kama‘āina (with valid ID)
Admission is not redeemable for another date. All proceeds from Hanohano Huliheʻe support the Daughters of Hawaiʻi with their efforts towards cultural and historic preservation, maintenance and operations of the Huliheʻe Palace and grounds.
Interested in becoming a vendor? We would love to have you! Email allyb@daughtersofhawaii.org for more information.
He Mau Manaʻo Hoʻonuiʻike: On December 22, 1871, King Kamehameha V proclaimed a national holiday to honor and celebrate his grandfather and the father of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Originally, the people of Hawai‘i wanted to mark the legacy of Lot Kapuāiwa (Kamehameha V) on his birthday, December 11. Being the humble ali‘i that he was, he opted to honor his grandfather instead and pushed the holiday as far away from his (Lot’s) birthday as possible, hence the arbitrary date of June 11. Thus, June 11, 1872, was the very first King Kamehameha Day holiday ever celebrated.
King Kamehameha I’s brother-in-law, Royal Governor John Adams Kuakini, built Hulihe‘e as his home and completed it in 1838. Kamehameha I was married to Kuakini’s sisters: Ka‘ahumanu, Nāmāhāna Pi‘ia, and Kalākua Kaheiheimālie.
Princess Ruth Ke‘elikōlani was the granddaughter of Kamehameha I. She was also the hānai daughter-in-law to Kuakini, through her marriage to his hānai son William Pitt Leleiohoku. Ke‘elikōlani made Hulihe‘e her chief residence, but preferred to sleep in a hale pili on the grounds.
On Kamehameha Day, June 11, 1928, the Daughters of Hawai‘i opened Hulihe‘e Palace as a historic house museum, having restored the home with original royal regalia and furnishings.