For those of you who have Friday off,

[KamaAina]

but can't bear the thought of celebrating a Reagan holiday :puke: ,

join with us as we celebrate Kamehameha Day. It is a state (not, usually, Federal) holiday in Hawai'i, and it is held, every year, on June 11.

http://home.hawaii.rr.com/hawaiianweb/holiday04.html

King Kamehameha Day is the only ali'i (royalty) holiday established during the monarchy and observed continually since its establishment by royal proclamation in 1871. The day is celebrated to honor King Kamehameha who unified the Hawaiian Islands and who stands as an exponent of Hawaiian self-determination. The first observance of this holiday was held on June 11, 1872. Kamehameha V designated June 11 as a public holiday to honor the memory of his great-grandfather who was the first ruler of the United Hawaiian Islands.

Kamehameha ("The Lonely One") was born between 1736 and 1758 in Kohala on the island of Hawaii. (the "Big Island" -Ed.) His father was Keoua Kupuapaikalani, chief of Kohala and a grandson of Keawe who once ruled over a powerful kingdom on the island of Hawaii. Kekuiapoiwa, Kamehameha's mother, was the daughter of a chief from Kona. The King was a courageous man of unbridled ambition. He became chief of his western Big Island district in 1781 and waged war against the other chiefs. He accomplished his mission of conquering all the islands, except Kauai which joined the kingdom voluntarily.

And so, this Friday, June 11, be sure to wish all your Reagan- loathing friends (of which I'm sure you have many!) a very happy Kamehameha Day! We're even having a parade (on Saturday):

http://starbulletin.com/2004/06/08/news/index2.html

The Honolulu Police Department will absorb the cost of providing traffic control at the King Kamehameha Celebration Floral Parade Saturday, a move that will save the historic event from being canceled....

The parade is "not only historically important, it's part of a legacy," she said.

[KamaAina]

1. So I take it either no one has Friday off,

or you're all perfectly fine with a Reagan holiday...

..um, I think not!

[JCMach1]

2. I had it off already... holy day and weekend

Weekends here are Thursday/Friday

[Lou_C]

3. Are all businesses closed on Friday?

:shrug:

[KamaAina]

4. No, just state offices and many others, including ours

Nearly all stores are open. Think Columbus Day on the mainland, roughly.

The buses even have a special "State Holiday" schedule (more like Sat. than Sun.) for this situation, which comes up several times a year: Prince Kuhio Day, March 26; Statehood Day, August 21; and, of course, Kam Day.