Mazie Hirono: “Aloha. I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 105, which authorizes the use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol…”

“Aloha. I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 105, which authorizes the use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor's Center for the annual Kamehameha Day Lei Draping on June 24, 2012. The event has been held on or around June 11th to coincide with the celebration of Kamehameha Day, a state holiday in Hawaii. The Kamehameha Day Lei Draping has been hosted by the Hawaii Congressional delegation and the Hawaii State Society of Washington DC since 1969; it parallels the lei draping ceremonies taking place at the Kamehameha statues on the islands of Oahu and Hawaii. Commonly believed to be born in about 1758, Kamehameha came from a family of alii (chiefs) on the island of Hawaii and was raised to become a skilled warrior in the traditional ways of combat. In 1778, as a young man, Kamehameha met the world-renowned navigator, Captain James Cook, the first European to visit Hawaii. Kamehameha later led a successful campaign for control of his native island of Hawaii and subsequently conquered the islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, and Oahu. With the agreement by King Kaumualii of Kauai to accept Kamehameha's rule in 1810, the island chain became a united kingdom for the first time. The islands became known collectively as Hawaii from that point on. Under Kamehameha's reign, the islands became more involved in international commerce and a center for the sandalwood trade.…”