Kamehameha Day, celebrated on June 11 each year, honors King Kamehameha the Great, unifier of the Hawaii islands. Each island celebrates in its own way, but all typically have an extravagant floral parade featuring royal pa’u riders. Led by the queen on horseback and followed by princesses of each island.
Horses and riders in the floral parade both wear elaborate leis and coverings of beautiful flowers, filling the air with wonderful scents of plumeria, puakinikini, and other tropical flowers.
This picture was taken at the Kailua-Kona pier, near the start and finish of the World Ironman Championship.
