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| | Presidential Proclamation -- King Kamehameha Day |
| | The White House |
| | Office of the Press Secretary |
| | For Immediate Release |
| | June 10, 2010 |
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| | 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." |
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| | 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. |
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| | 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. |
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| | 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. |
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| | 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. |
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| | BARACK OBAMA |
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