Kamehameha Day 2026 in the United States

Kamehameha the Great was the monarch of Hawaii between 1782 and 1819. He is well-known and respected for uniting and establishing the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1810. Kamehameha Day is held in his honor on June 11 each year.

Is Kamehameha Day a Public Holiday?

This is a state public holiday. State government offices are closed. Some schools and businesses may also be closed on this day.

What Do People Do?

Traditionally, Kamehameha Day celebrations included fairs, carnivals and running, horse and cycle races. Now various events are organized on or around Kamehameha Day. They include a floral parade through Honolulu; statues of Kamehameha the Great being draped in lei (traditional flower garlands); parties; horse riding competitions; and the King Kamehameha Hula Competition.

Public Life

Kamehameha Day is a state holiday in Hawaii. Many state offices and schools are closed and public transit services may run to a reduced schedule. Stores and other businesses may be open or closed. Kamehameha Day is not a public holiday in other parts of the United States on June 11.

Background

Kamehameha the Great, also known as Kamehameha I and Kamehameha the First, was ruler of Hawaii from 1782 until his death on May 8, 1819. He is remembered for uniting Hawaii, introducing laws to uphold human rights in combat situations, and for being a fair and stable leader. His name means "lonely" or "loneliness" and he is sometimes known as the "Napoleon of the Pacific".

In 1871, the great-grandson of Kamehameha the Great, known as Kamehameha V, passed a royal decree that Kamehameha Day should be celebrated. The day was first observed on June 11, 1872, and was one of the first holidays proclaimed by the Hawaii State Legislature after Hawaii became a US state in 1959.

Symbols

Important symbols of Kamehameha Day are the statues of Kamehameha the Great in the Hawaiian cities of Honolulu, Kapaau and Hilo, as well as the National Statuary Hall on the US Capitol in Washington DC.  During the Kamehameha Day ceremonies, the statues are draped in lei. These are garlands made by stringing flowers or leaves together and are often hung around the necks of loved ones, visitors and statues of respected people.

While we diligently research and update our holiday dates, some of the information in the table above may be preliminary. If you find an error, please let us know.