With the theme “Holomua Kamehameha” — Honoring the 125 years of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop’s educational legacy, the Na Kamehameha Commemorative Pa‘u Parade & Ho‘olaule‘a is set for next week Saturday, June 16. The event will include a parade down Front Street and festival at Kamehameha Iki Park. Photo by Hunter Trevelyan Wyndham.

LAHAINA – The Na Kamehameha Commemorative Pa’u Parade & Ho’olaule’a Planning Committee invites the public to commemorate and celebrate Hawaii’s ali’i through the State Commission theme: “Holomua Kamehameha” – Honoring the 125 years of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop’s educational legacy.

Festivities will take place on Saturday, June 16, starting at 9 a.m. at Kamehameha Iki Park on Front Street.

The parade will commence at 9:45 a.m. from Kenui Street down Front to Shaw Street. Front Street will be closed to traffic for the parade starting at Kenui at 8:30 a.m. At 9 a.m., all subsequent cross-streets will be closed. Maui Police Department and community volunteers will be posted at each intersection to regulate the road closure.

Following the parade, a ho’okupu ceremony will be held at Moku’ula Ahu.

The free admission ho’olaule’a at Kamehameha Iki Park (Old Armory Park) next to 505 Front Street will include exhibits and tours by Friends of Moku’ula and Hui O Wa’a Kaulua, a pa’u awards presentation at 1:15 p.m., pa’u exhibit (meet and greet the pa’u princesses and riders and view a pa’u documentary), lei making, food booths, Maui made crafters and entertainment by local musical artists, hula halau and Polynesian dancers. The festivities are scheduled to last until sunset.

At the ho‘olaule‘a, the public can meet and greet the pa‘u princesses and riders.

The annual parade showcases the art of pa’u, a visual demonstration of Hawaiian equestrian styling, and gathers Maui County organizations and the community to honor the Kamehameha lineage.

Parade commentary stations will be located at six spots along the parade route: Longhi’s, Kimo’s, Cheeseburger in Paradise, Lahaina Pizza Company, The Wharf Cinema Center and entertainment stage at Kamehameha ‘Iki Park.

During the parade, Kamehameha Schools Maui Campus students, teachers, faculty and alumni will celebrate the institution’s 125th anniversary, and Sacred Hearts School in Lahaina will celebrate 150 years.

Planning co-chairs for this year’s event are Daryl Fujiwara of Smythe Fujiwara Design and Matthew Erickson of the Lahaina Hawaiian Civic Club. Pa’u co-chairs are Crystal Smythe and Sue Lincoln.

For more information on the parade and ho’olaule’a, call (808) 264-8779.