Maryanne Gomes, Mele Fong, and Marilyn Kusunoki represented the Ahahui Ka’ahumanu (along with 6 other members) in the Kamehameha Day parade on June 17 in Lahaina, Maui
Last Saturday, June 17, I participated in my first parade in Lahaina honoring King Kamehameha for his birthday. Nine of us represented the Ahahui Ka’ahumanu as we rode in cars in the Nā Kamehameha Commemorative Pāʻū Parade that went from Kenui Street down Front Street to Shaw Street. Along the way, we heard live announcers and Hawaiian music blasting from 5 stations throughout the parade route. We were towards of the front of the parade line up and noticed it took about 40-minutes for us from start to finish. It was a lot of fun to wave and smile at people along the parade route. At one point I heard my name called out, and noticed a husband of one of my ‘ukulele students in the crowd. It’s a small world!
Not to forget the reason for the parade – it was all about honoring King Kamehameha the Great. This was the second activity that I participated in this year along with my Ahahui Ka’ahumanu sisters to honor the king that unified the Hawaiian Islands into one Kingdom. Read about the commemorative march held on the King’s birthday on June 11th.
“King Kamehameha was prophesied to unite the Hawaiian Islands from the night of his birth. A comet streaked across the sky fulfilling an ancient prophesy that the child born under this phenomenon would one day rise up as ruler. King Kamehameha the Great demonstrated strength and intelligence as he created a unified island kingdom from what was once warring tribes. For this, we honor him.” – Read more about the 145th King Kamehameha Day holiday and activities held statewide.
Aloha, Mele Fong aka Ukulele Mele
