ʻĀINA STEWARDSHIP

Each year, Kamehameha Schools honors the life and enduring legacy of Kauikeaouli through an ‘aha mele and celebration at his birthplace, Keauhou Bay, by highlighting organizations that uplift the community through education.

The 24th annual Kauikeaouli Festival brought people to the Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa last March. His reign marked a period of profound change. Kamehameha III established a constitutional government, safeguarded Hawai‘i’s sovereignty during the 1843 British occupation and restoration, and championed universal education. Ahead of his time, he established Hawai‘i’s public school system in 1840 – decades before many other nations – laying the foundation for a kingdom built on education and enlightenment. This year’s festival theme reflected that vision for his people: “He aupuni palapala ko‘u” – Mine is the kingdom of literacy.

“This festival offered a unique opportunity for the community to reconnect with the cherished ‘āina of Ka Lani Kauikeaouli,” said Kaimana Barcarse, ʻĀina Pauahi’s director of sites and facilities at Kamehameha Schools. “We invited kānaka to return and engage with these lands that hold deep historical and cultural importance.”

A proud partner of the birthday celebration is the Daughters of Hawai‘i, a nonprofit founded to perpetuate Hawaiian culture by preserving two of Hawai‘i’s royal palaces and Kauikeaouli’s birthplace.

To learn more about the impact of Kauikeaouli, visit www.ksbe.edu/kauikeaouli/about-kauikeaouli.