King Kamehameha Day, 2010

Proclamation 8534 of June 10, 2010

King Kamehameha Day, 2010

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Two hundred years ago, King Kamehameha the Great
brought the Hawaiian Islands together under a unified
government. His courage and leadership earned him a
legacy as the ``Napoleon of the Pacific,'' and today
his humanity is preserved in Ke Kanawai Mamalahoe, or
``the Law of the Splintered Paddle.'' This law protects
civilians in times of war and remains enshrined in
Hawaii's constitution as ``a unique and living symbol
of the State's concern for public safety.''

On this bicentennial King Kamehameha Day, we celebrate
the history and heritage of the Aloha State, which has
immeasurably enriched our national life and culture.
The Hawaiian narrative is one of both profound triumph
and, sadly, deep injustice. It is the story of Native
Hawaiians oppressed by crippling disease, aborted
treaties, and the eventual conquest of their sovereign
kingdom. These grim milestones remind us of an unjust
time in our history, as well as the many pitfalls in
our Nation's long and difficult journey to perfect
itself. Yet, through the peaks and valleys of our
American story, Hawaii's steadfast sense of community
and mutual support shows the progress that results when
we are united in a spirit of limitless possibility.

In the decades since their persecution, Native
Hawaiians have remained resilient. They are part of the
diverse people of Hawaii who, as children of pioneers
and immigrants from around the world, carry on the
unique cultures and traditions of their forebears. As
Americans, we can all admire these traits, as well as
the raw natural beauty of the islands themselves.
Truly, the Aloha Spirit of Hawaii echoes the American
Spirit, representing the opportunities we all have to
grow and learn from one another as we carry our Nation
toward a brighter day.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the
United States, do hereby proclaim June 11, 2010, as
King Kamehameha Day. I call upon all Americans to
celebrate the rich heritage of Hawaii with appropriate
ceremonies and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
tenth day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand
ten, and of the Independence of the United States of
America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.