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Kings Kamehameha I Kamehameha II Kamehameha III Kamehameha IV & Queen Emma King Kamehameha V King Lunalilo Queen Kapiolani King David Kalakaua Queen Liliuokalani
"Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ‘Āina i ka Pono" Translation: The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.
"Forgiveness is GIVING UP the HOPE that the PAST could have been different." Oprah Winfrey
Presidential Proclamation -- King Kamehameha Day
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
June 10, 2010
Two hundred years ago, King Kamehameha the Great brought the Hawaiian Islands together under a unified government. His courage and
leadership earned him a legacy as the "Napoleon of the Pacific," and today his humanity is preserved in Ke Kanawai Mamalahoe, or "the Law
of the Splintered Paddle."
This law protects civilians in times of war and remains enshrined in Hawaii's constitution as "a unique and living symbol of the State's concern
for public safety."
On this bicentennial King Kamehameha Day, we celebrate the history and heritage of the Aloha State, which has immeasurably enriched our
national life and culture.
The Hawaiian narrative is one of both profound triumph and sadly, deep injustice. It is the story of Native Hawaiians oppressed by crippling
disease, aborted treaties, and the eventual conquest of their sovereign kingdom.
These grim milestones remind us of an unjust time in our history, as well as the many pitfalls in our Nation's long and difficult journey to
perfect itself. Yet, through the peaks and valleys of our American story, Hawaii's steadfast sense of community and mutual support shows the
progress that results when we are united in a spirit of limitless possibility.
In the decades since their persecution, Native Hawaiians have remained resilient. They are part of the diverse people of Hawaii who, as
children of pioneers and immigrants from around the world, carry on the unique cultures and traditions of their forebears.
As Americans, we can all admire these traits, as well as the raw natural beauty of the islands themselves. Truly, the Aloha Spirit of Hawaii
echoes the American Spirit, representing the opportunities we all have to grow and learn from one another as we carry our Nation toward a
brighter day.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 11, 2010, as King Kamehameha Day. I call upon all Americans to
celebrate the rich heritage of Hawaii with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this tenth day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.
BARACK OBAMA
