Hulihe‘e Palace event remembers King Kamehameha I

King Kamehameha I, Pai‘ea, will be remembered during “Afternoon at Hulihe‘e” on Sunday at Hulihee Palace in Kailua-Kona.

The event, presented by the Daughters of Hawaii and Calabash Cousins, at 4 p.m. will also feature the voices of the Merrie Monarchs, performing arts by Kumu Hula Etua Lopes and his Halau Na Pua U‘i O Hawaii and the West Hawaii County Band.

“Afternoon at Hulihe‘e” is part of the Palace’s series of free monthly concerts that honor Hawaii’s past monarchs and historical figures; donations are appreciated. Attendees should bring a beach mat or chair as seating is not provided.

Born in Kohala, Kamehameha (1738-1819) moved the heavy Naha stone as a teen — a feat that prophesied he would rule the island chain. In battle, Kamehameha overtook Hawaii Island, Maui, Molokai and Oahu; he put Kauai and Niihau under his sovereignty by diplomacy. By 1810, the Kingdom of Hawaii was established and Kamehameha moved his court from Waikiki to Kailua-Kona.

After Kamehameha formed his kingdom he attempted to modify the impact of war on innocent citizens caught in the conflict so he issued an edict to protect women, children and the elderly from arbitrary attack.

Kamehameha also instituted a law to protect the weak from the strong, recalling a blow he suffered as a young warrior when his foot was caught in a rock crevice. The opponent hit Kamehameha with a canoe paddle that splintered at impact and the command later became known as the Law of the Splintered Paddle. The king died in 1819 in Kailua-Kona.

The palace is open for docent-guided and self-guided tours. Museum hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for kamaaina, military and seniors, and $1 for keiki 18 years old and younger. Contact the palace at 329-1877 or visit www.daughtersofhawaii.org for more information.

Caretakers of Hulihe‘e Palace are the Daughters of Hawaii and the Calabash Cousins. The Daughters of Hawaii was founded in 1903 and opens membership to any woman who is directly descended from a person who lived in Hawaii prior to 1880. Helping Daughters of Hawaii in its efforts since 1986 are the Calabash Cousins; membership is available to all.