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Sunday April 29, 2001
All Photos © Tim N. Touchton
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Here's the King Kamehameha I statue we visited in downtown Honolulu
on Sunday afternoon.
Located at 957 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu. 1-888-522-1333
From Waikiki you take Kalakaua Avenue towards the mountains.
You turn left onto South Beretania Street and then turn left onto Richards
Street, then again turn left onto South King Street. The statue will be on
your right in front of the Ali'iolani Hale.
King Kamehameha I was probably the most loved of all of Hawaii's heroes and
leaders.
He unified the Hawaiian Islands and his government maintained peace and traditional
values.
This statue is one of only three made from this cast and was made in Paris from
a model made
by American artist T.R. Gould. This statue is located in front of Ali' Iolani
Hale and was dedicated
as part of King Kalakaua's coronation in 1893. Another statue is located in
Kohala on the Big Island
and the other is in Washington D.C.
King Kamehameha I was known by several names, such as; "The Warrior King",
The Napoleon
of the Pacific", "The Lonely One" and the title by which history
knows him best, "Kamehameha the Great".
It is believed that he was born in 1753 (although not positive), in the area
of Kohala on the island of Hawaii.
It is believed that a comet heralded his birth, a prophesy of his future royal
place in Hawaii's history. It is also
believed that during his childhood he moved the fabled "naha stone",
a task reserved only for the true leader who
is to unite the islands. Kamehameha knew the notorious Captain Cook and even
stayed on his ship one night. He
was known as a great warrior and he was adamant in keeping the old traditions
and kapu (traditions, taboos,
and sacred restrictions). He has been praised for his promotion of agriculture
and his favor of industry and trade.
Honolulu Harbor, the only deep water harbor in the islands, became a vital link
to the western world. Historical
literature calls Kamehameha I as "a statesman who ruled Hawaii fairly and
wisely, guiding her through the first contacts
with Western civilization."
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