The King’s Gala Honors Kamehameha

Photo by Léo Azambuja

By Léo Azambuja, Interim Editor

The King’s Gala at Hiro’s Ohana Grill officially opened Friday evening the Molokai Kamehameha Celebration over the weekend, honoring the ali‘i who united the Hawaiian Islands under one ruler more than 200 years ago.

“Kamehameha, the Great was a uniter, uniting our culture in fashion, in arts, in all the skills that we have in hula, in traditional hula, in modern hula, which is ‘auana. There’s so many things that’s happening here to honor our king,” said Tylor Tanaka, head of the organizing committee for the event. 

This was the fourth year the beachfront restaurant opened its doors to celebrate Kamehameha Day, which dates back more than a century ago. The official date of the holiday is June 11, but the celebrations were held over the weekend with the King’s Gala Friday and the Ho‘olaule‘a Saturday.

Tanaka said 80 percent of the 250 tickets for the dinner had been sold before the event. When the doors opened, more last-minute attendees came and almost completely filled out all the tables set up at the pool side.  

A professional photographer at a red carpet at the entrance of Hiro’s took pictures of people arriving for the dinner celebration. Live music started at 5 p.m., and the buffet opened half-an-hour later. Master of ceremonies Miss Malibu Del Rey kept the crowd entertained and laughing throughout the night. 

Hula from Moana’s Hula Halau and Halau Ka Liko Pua o Kalaniakea took pool side stage from 6-7 p.m., when local models sporting alohawear and beachwear from Li‘u Love Clothing made the swimming pool area their catwalk. More music followed, including Irie Love and her band. 

The event ended at 10 p.m., but the night continued at Paddlers Restaurant and Bar, where attendees with a wrist band had free entrance. 

The first Kamehameha Day was celebrated June 11, 1872. The holiday was established by Kamehameha V, the grandson of Kamehameha, the Great, to honor his grandfather.

Tanaka, born and raised on Molokai, said the celebration is important to honor Kamehameha, the Hawaiian culture, and to make sure we still remember where we came from.

“Without our culture, we lose our identity,” he said. “Events like this help us get back to our roots, help us to continue to foster growth in our culture, where people can flourish.”