A feast for a king

Kamehameha Day
June 11
Today, Hawaii is one of the fifty states of the

United States. But two hundred years ago it was a group of islands ruled
by many kings. One of the kings, Kamehameha I (kah may hah
[may]{.smallcaps} hah), ruled part of the large island of Hawaii.

Kamehameha was a great warrior. In time, he won control of all the
Hawaiian Islands and made them one kingdom. More than a hundred years
ago, the last king of Hawaii, Kamehameha V, set aside June 11 as a day
to honor his grandfather.

Kamehameha Day is a time for all kinds of festivities. In the city of
Honolulu, singers chant songs in front of the statue of the great king.
They also decorate the statue with flower wreaths called leis (lays).

After this ceremony, there’s a big parade. One float carries a man
dressed like the king. He wears a helmet and a cloak of golden feathers.
Each of the eight major islands is represented by a princess on
horseback.

Later, almost everyone goes to a feast called a luau [(loo
ow).]{.smallcaps} The main dish is a whole young pig, roasted for hours
in a deep pit. When the roast pig is carried in, the feast—fit for a
king—begins!