Join us after the parade at Hulihe‘e!
Join us for the annual King Kamehameha Day Ho‘olaule‘a with Hawaiian music, hula performances, plenty of ‘ono grindz, and local artisans and vendors! The Ho‘olaule‘a at Hulihe‘e Palace in Historic Kailua Village will begin at approximately 11:00 AM following the King Kamehameha Day Celebration Parade on Saturday, June 7, 2025. The roads close at 8 AM and the parade will start at 9 AM along Ali‘i Drive.
Festival Details
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 the festival is free. Admission into the Palace Museum for Self-Guided Palace Tours are:
$8 General
$3 Youth (5-12yrs)
$1 Children (4 yrs & Under)
$5 Kama‘āina (with valid ID)
Admission is not redeemable for another date. All proceeds from the Ho‘olaule‘a go towards the historic preservation, maintenance and operations of the Palace and grounds.
Prize Drawing
Enter for your chance to win a King Size Hawaiian Quilt with Two Shams in the White Ginger design. Fragrant and lovely the white ginger is known for its pleasant scent and beauty found in many island gardens. Discover the warmth and beauty of Hawaiian handmade quilts. Each quilt from Kenui Quilts is hand-appliquéd and hand-quilted, honoring generations of tradition.
Enter for your chance to win a King Size Hawaiian Quilt with Two Shams! Suggested $5 donation per ticket. Winner must be 18 years or older and live in the United States. The Drawing will take place and the winner will be notified on June 13, 2025 at 4 PM HST.
NO PURCHASE OR DONATION NECESSARY TO ENTER TO WIN. A PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. To enter the Prize Drawing without a donation, send a postcard with your name, email, and phone number to: Daughters of Hawaiʻi, Attn: Quilt Drawing, 2913 Pali Hwy., Honolulu, HI 96817. Limited to one entry per day. Postcards must be received by Friday, June 13, 2025 by 12:00 PM HST.
ENTERTAINMENT
As is tradition, we’re looking forward to an incredible line-up of Hawaiian music and hula performances following the King Kamehameha Celebration Floral Parade. See below for a first look at our entertainment lineup for the festival and when they’ll perform, so you can plan accordingly!
Festival Opening Blessing with Kumu Keala Ching! Following the parade, Kumu Keala will officially open the Ho‘olaule‘a with a blessing. He is a strong supporter of Huliheʻe, always promoting and encouraging kamaʻāina and visitors to learn our history, and celebrate our aliʻi while visiting the Palace!
11:00 AM Hālau Kala‘akeakauikawēkiu with Kumu Hula Aloha Victor
12:00 PM Maka Gallinger
12:30 PM Little Miss Kona Coffee Titleholders
12:45 PM Pa‘ani Pila
1:45 PM Mana Grace
VENDORS
- Daughters of Hawai‘i
- Kona Brewery LLC
- Kōlea Sparkling Hop Water
- Aloha is the Cure LLC
- Anelaonalani Designs
- Big Island Invasive Species Committee
- Celebrate Aloha
- Colby’s Creations
- D’s Kreationz
- Double Zero Pizza HI
- Ēlama & Hilo One Scholarship Program, Hawaiʻi Community College at Pālamanui
- Hanabata Days 808
- Hawai‘i Ant Lab
- Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association
- HI BAO Thai Delicacies
- Hokubijou
- Ikehu Collective
- Island Style Birria
- Ka Hiwahiwa Hawaiʻi
- Kahuna Products Hawai‘i
- Kailua-Kona Library; Hawai‘i State Public Library System
- Kaulua‘e Hawai‘i
- Keolanani Flowers and Massage
- Kikenei Hawaii
- Kona Salt Farm by Sea Salts of Hawai‘i
- Kona Town Hui LLC
- Kulewa Co LLC
- Leo’s Legacy
- Maui Rooted
- My Little Lemon
- Oyatsu Hawaii
- PATH-People for Active Transportation Hawaii
- Pūlama iā Kona Heritage Council
- Pu‘ukoholā Heiau NHS
- Soda2art
- Sparked with Aloha
- The Eclectic Craftsman
- Wailea
- Wildcraft Jewelry
FUN FACTS: 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.
Brought to you by the Daughters of Hawai‘i in partnership with the King Kamehameha Day Celebration Parade, Kailua-Kona, with funding from the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority’s Community Enrichment Program presented in partnership with the Hawai‘i Visitors & Convention Bureau and the Island of Hawai‘i Visitors Bureau.