LAHAINA — Aloha mai kakou! Come and be a part of the Lahaina Royal Ho’ike on Nov. 12, 2011.

The event will be held at Waiola Church (535 Waine’e St.) with protocols at the Waine’e Royal Mausoleum from 8:30 to 9 a.m., Ho’olaulea & Silent Auction from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Lu’au and Ho’ike from 5 to 8 p.m. In this year’s Ho’ike, we will celebrate the 175th birthday of King Kalakaua with the theme “175 years of His Majesty’s Aloha.”

We desire volunteers, vendors, donors, cultural/historical exhibitors, sponsors and silent auction items. Volunteers are wanted, especially Hula Halau and 175 conch shell blowers to aid us in telling King Kalakaua’s story! Also, anyone wishing to become a member of The Royal Hawaiian Guard is always welcome.

Our goal is to bring the community together by celebrating Lahaina’s royal legacy and the birthday of a prominent Crowned Ali’i. This event supports The Royal Hawaiian Guard, local non-profits, local artisans, cultural organizations and historic societies, which will be a part of the day’s events.

Funds raised for The Guard will be used to secure our 501(c)(3) status from the IRS, develop and implement a cadet program for middle and high schools, purchase new uniforms for our dedicated Tomb Guards, establish a free Community Fitness Program and continue our current operations and programs established.

The Royal Hawaiian Guard is a nonprofit organization formed in the State of Hawaii on Aug. 1, 2009, and fiscally sponsored by the West Maui Taxpayers Association and West Maui Improvement Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Since our founding, we’ve stood sentry at the Waine’e Royal Mausoleum at Waiola Church in Lahaina every Sunday morning from 8:55 to 10:15 a.m.

On June 5, 2011, Waiola Church, the Kahu (caretakers) of the Waine’e Royal Mausoleum, affirmed our status as the Official Royal Honor Guard. With this affirmation, we are proud to have the privilege, honor and responsibility of being the first and only Official Royal Honor Guard since 1893. We are committed to the protection, perpetuation, and preservation of the Waine’e Royal Mausoleum, where we stand sentry and conduct protocols at the resting place of Hawai’i’s Crowned Queens and High Chiefs.

The Guard is established solely on the island of Maui with the motto to “Malama Hawai’i” and mission to perpetuate Hawaiian values through programs of Hawaiiana, Youth Excellence, and Community Enhancement.

This year, with the support of the community, we have been able to do so much with so little. We continue to sentry at the Royal Mausoleum, assist in stream restoration and taro farming projects at Honopou, conduct special protocols for our military veterans and community dignitaries, present historical talks to schools and the general community, work with young people in rifle exhibition drills at Baldwin High School JROTC program, and have volunteered and learned of the great works of the Friends of Moku’ula, Hui o Wa’a Kaulua and Olowalu Cultural Reserve. With the generous support of many others, we facilitated events such as the Hawaii Drill Experience (a program for young people to learn discipline and dedication through rifle exhibition drills and the importance of a sense of place through the Hawaiian culture) and La Hae Hawai’i-Hawai’i Flag Day to honor the history of Hawai’i’s Flag and bring the Maui Community together.

For more information, please visit www.royalhawaiianguard.com. For a tax-deductible contribution, please make your check to The West Maui Improvement Foundation, for RHG.

Vendors and exhibitors may call Grale Chong at 661-4349 for information, as well as Christina Sallas at (808) 268-8293 for the silent auction; Wilmont Kamaunu Kahaialii at (808) 283-9651 for entertainment and protocols; Herman Kepani at (808) 446-6497 for donations and sponsorships; and Paulo Faleafine Jr. at (808) 250-9196 for volunteers, the lu’au and general information.