The parade features beautifully adorned pa‘u riders.

LAHAINA — With the theme “E Ho‘okahi Ka Mana‘o, Ho‘okahi Pu‘uwai, Ho‘okahi Ke Aloha” (Be of one mind, one heart, one love), Lahaina’s Na Kamehameha Commemorative Pa‘u Parade and Ho‘olaule‘a will be held Saturday, June 12.

In 1810, Kamehameha the Great unified the eight major islands and formally established the Kingdom of Hawaii. This year’s theme celebrates 200 years of this unity.

The parade will start on Front Street at Kenui Street at 9:45 a.m. The procession will make its way southward and end at Moku‘ula near Shaw Street.

Front Street will be closed to traffic starting at Kenui at 8:30 a.m. At 9 a.m., cross-streets along the parade route will be closed. Police officers and community volunteers will be posted at each intersection to regulate the road closure.

Opening ceremonies and entertainment will begin at Keawa‘iki Park (Banyan Tree Park) at 9 a.m. The ho‘olaule‘a will run throughout the day until 5 p.m. and feature nonstop entertainment, awards, crafters and food booths benefiting Maui non-profits.

The parade will feature colorful floats, decorated vehicles, marching units and not-to-be-missed pa‘u riders on their horses, all honoring King Kamehameha and his family. 

Edward Moanaliha Uwekoolani Sr. will serve as pa‘u marshall, and the Royal Court will feature ‘Ohana Ho‘opai of Hana.

Commentators will be stationed along the parade route at Longhi’s, Kimo’s, Cheeseburger in Paradise, Lahaina Pizza Company and The Wharf Cinema Center.

At Banyan Tree Park, feast on kalua pig sandwiches, kalua pig nachos, beef stew and caesar salad sold by the Lahaina Hawaiian Civic Club and Relay For Life-Team ILWU Maui.

In the park, members of the Lahaina-Honolua Senior Citizens Club will string lei, and an exhibit will display artifacts and video following the Kamehameha Lineage in Lahaina in a timeline format.

Hui O Wa‘a Kaulua will explore early voyaging to show how Polynesians came to Hawaii. They will feature a model of a voyaging canoe and showcase what the hui has in store for the future.

The Friends of Moku‘ula’s display will show pre-contact during the ruling of Maui Chief Pi‘ilani and provide information on recent archaeological finds at Moku‘ula.

And Lahaina Restoration Foundation will create a display on the Monarchy period — the rule of Kamehameha III and Kamehameha IV — and how these two ali‘i influenced Lahaina.

Toddy Lilikoi will emcee the day’s entertainment by various local artists, including Kulewa, Lui Williams and Napili Kai Foundation.

Across Front Street at The Wharf Cinema Center, Ron Hetteen will play Hawaiian music and popular tunes on center stage from noon to 2 p.m. Admission is free.