Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 7, Number 7, 1 July 1990 — Royal Order honors kings in parade [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Royal Order honors kings in parade

In celebration of its 125 years of fraternalism and history, the RoyaI Order of Kamehameha I entered a colorful float depicting the ali'i Kamehameha the Great, his grandson Kamehameha V and Prince Kuhio in the Kamehameha Day parade June 9. The float symboli zed the humble beginnings of the ali'i ; f rom grass hale to the heights of recognized Hawaiian leadership.

The order was founded by Kamehameha V in honor of his grandfather. It was Kamehameha V who signed a royal proclamation setting aside June 11 as the day to celebrate the birth of Kamehameha the Great with honor and respect. The order is dedicated to cultivation and development of the Hawaiian through feelings of honor and loyalty to the Kamehameha dynasty.

The float was led by kahuna nui Brother Franklin Pao, Dina Harvest, John Lake and Keone Nunes, who chanted in honorof the ali'i. The float was decorated with la'i (ti leaf), niu (eoeonut leaf) and laua'e fern, symbols of the order. Clifford Anderson, ali'i nui and grand master, the highest ranking officer of the order, rode on the float with Edward Kaopuiki, ali'i aimoku, head of the Hawai'i island chapter, and John Lindsey, ali'i okana. Betty Kawohiokalani Ellis Jenkins, president of

the Ladies of the Royal Order, was also aboard the float with trustees of the Hawai'i chapter Verna Low, Martha Maunakea and Bernice Waiwaiole. Following the float, on foot, were officers of the women's auxiliary Maria Lindsey, Janice Akana,

Pua'ala McE!haney, and other ladies of the order. The Royal Order entourage ended traditionally with a procession of the males of the Royal Order of Kamehameha protecting the women within their ranks.

Pua'ala McElhaney thatched hale for the Royal Order of Kamehameha parade float.

Float chairman Milton Smith places a bundle of eane stalks for the parade hale's thatched roof.

Weaver Emmaline Unga taught members how to weave coconut leaves for the Kamehameha

Day parade float.