The King Kamehameha Day Parade in Kona

The Royal Court of King Kamehameha

    Although this blog is primarily aimed at fish identification and events surrounding that most worthy of endeavors, occasionally we feel the need to talk about events happening on our #Island in the Pacific.  This blog falls into that category.

   Yesterday Sandra and I attended the King Kamehameha Day parade here in Kailua Kona.  This was

The Grand Marshall in Top Hat

substantially different than anything I might have expected, which might just show how oblivious I am to events happening around me.  After all, we have lived through at least three of these parades, which certainly make the news.  But I think you might be surprised at what we saw and my conclusions.

   The day was relatively cloudy and a bit cool for the season.  Because Sandra wanted to sit on the sea wall, we were facing east, into the rising sun.  The parade started at 9 AM as the first event in a day of dance, music and other festivities, so as we were sitting on the seawall, the sun was rising in the east.  

   The parade was different in another mundane way (aside from occurring in the morning instead of the late afternoon)  It progressed form the Royal Polynesian resort in the south, north to the old airport; the opposite of all other parades that invariably go from north to south.

    I figured that this would be a fun, festive parade with kids on floats and bands, and there was  a little of that, but basically this was a parade of equestrian groups representing all the islands.  These groups were termed Pa'u units.  They consisted of from three to five women and two men, all riding horses bedecked with leis of plants relating to the pa'u tradition of their particular island. 

   All these horses were brought into Kailua Kona along with their riders.  As you see, the women are clothed in remarkable fashion, the men to a slightly lesser extent, but still consistent with their island theme.

   Pa'u means skirt. You will note that the women are riding astride their mounts and wearing a long culotte, hence the pa'u.  These outfits date back to the introduction of horses in the Hawaiian Islands, the year 1805.  At that time only the Alii were permitted to ride and the Alii women formed the first pa'u groups.  After the royal Hawaiian government was overthrown by the United States military, the pa'u tradition withered.  The

The Pa'u Queen

tradition was brought back about fifty years later and women and their male attendants have been riding in pa'u units for over a hundred years.

   You may recall that I said at the beginning that this procession was not frivolous.  In fact, there was little cheering as the 19 equestrian groups paraded by.  Most were mounted, but there were a couple horse drawn carriages.  The Grand marshall in top hat, drawn by two magnificent draft horses.  And before I go on, I need to mention that the parade was started by a male Royal Court, dressed in alii garb, lead by bearers of kahilis, those feather dusters on steroids that the royal Hawaiians used as standards.

   There was a queen with her own mounted court astride big, strong horses, and she, in fact, was a big strong woman, not some wimpy homecoming queen type.  Each pa'u group that followed was in the color traditional to their island.  In addition (and this surprised me) each island sent a pa'u unit to Honolulu for their King Kamehmeha Day parade.

   So here is my take.  As you may know, there is a significant movement to bring back the royal Hawaiian

Princess Raisha Karratti and the Hawaii Island court

government.  When he was campaigning here, John Kasich was asked what he thought about it and was quoted as saying he was unaware of it.  And why should he be...its not like its really going to happen.  But the Hawaiians take it seriously.  One sees lots of bumper stickers and such supporting the idea.  

   I believe these pa'u groups are representing that ideal.  The mounted princesses were mostly at least part

The Roving Marshalls Brought Peace to Alii Drive

Hawaiian, they represent the deposed government.  The mounted princesses held themselves with a restrained grace as they gave signs of greeting to the crowd.  and at the end of the day, we do live in a Hawaii that until recently (in the great scheme of the universe)  was ruled by the Hawaiians.