History & Mission

Honoring Kamehameha for over 135 years

The Kamehameha Festival (Festival) is part of the Kamehameha Day celebration that was first established in 1871 as a national holiday of the Kingdom of Hawai‘i. Kamehameha Day honors the memory of Kamehameha who united the Hawaiian Islands in 1810 to became Hawai‘i’s first King. The Royal Order of Kamehameha I, Māmalahoa has been involved in the presentation of the Kamehameha Day Celebration in Hilo, Hawai‘i since 1908. In more modern times Māmalahoa has presented the Kamehameha Day celebration on Mokuola (Island of Life) in Hilo Bay since 1985. In 2008 Māmalahoa revitalized Hilo’s Kamehameha Day celebration with an expanded and more culturally significant event called the Kamehameha Festival (Festival).

Today the Kamehameha Festival continues to honor Kamehameha and acts to protect, preserve, and perpetuate the Hawaiian culture by sharing traditional Hawaiian dance, music, chant, practices, arts, and crafts with thousands of island residents and visitors from around the world. Proudly presented by Māmalahoa, the Kamehameha Festival is held every year on Kamehameha Day (June 11) in Hilo, Hawai‘i on Mokuola (Island of Life). The Festival begins at 9:00 am and ends at 5:00 pm, is free and open to the public, and remains an alcohol, smoke, and drug free event.