King Kamehameha I Statue

Great stop for a little bit of Hawaiian history. Also, more importantly, there are public restrooms off the parking lot in the back.

Got to see the birthday celebration in Waimea. You could really feel the excitement in the air as the whole town plus all us tourists came to celebrate this amazing Hawaiian legend. The focal point of the celebration was around a statue (you have to read the history on this this work). The festivities start with adorning the statue with numerous leis of all types. Check out the pictures! There is hula performed at various intervals by a local hālau. After the statue ceremony there is a parade. Keep in mind this is a small town. Think American Main Street but with Hawaiian flair. No big floats or balloons. Lots of people in cars, hula, and most notably horses ridden by paniolo. No commercial overload, just true spirit honoring the most daring man in Hawaiian history.

Wow! Cool history for this original, King Kamehameha I Statue
Located outside the Veterans Building, this very discreet statue packs a wallop of history & you can read about it all for your very own self at the plaque located right outside the Veterans entrance
In a nutshell, this statue was lost in a shipwreck in the late 1800s but later recovered & now takes its rightful & proper place at the King’s birthplace
Won’t repeat the longer history — just read others’ reviews for that. But I will say that we were all kinds of impressed by the history, the restoration efforts that recently took place & the care & pristine nature of this honorarium. Props!

What an absolutely beautiful site! This truly is an amazing experience, although not for everyone I admit. It is truly a humbling to be here and truly understand it.
Like Eric’s review said, this is a sacred place to a lot of people and please approach it as such.

Here I stand at the Birthplace of
The Great King Kamehameha.
North Kohala, Big Island of Hawai’i!
The original Kamehameha statue destined for Honolulu was shipwrecked off the Falkland Islands in the 1880’s. The re-​cast now stands in front of Aliiolani Hale in Honolulu.
The original, after being recovered by the Falklanders, now stands at the legendary King’s birthplace in Kapaau in Kohala, on the Big Island of Hawai’i. The original was meant to be placed in Honolulu, but because of the shipwreck it was re-​cast and what you see in Honolulu is just that– a beautiful 130-​year-​old copy.
The sash on the statue’s waist is a symbolic rendering of the Sacred Sash of Liloa. In 1880, the initial sculpture was sent to Paris, France to be cast in bronze. Controversy amongst purists suggest that the majestic statue of the great King resemble a Roman soldier instead.
The stance of a Roman general with gesturing hand, spear, and cape are also Roman influenced.
After the recovery of the original, and Honolulu now already having a Kamehameha statue, the original was sent to the birthplace of King Kamehameha…
North Kohala, Big Island of Hawai’i! Ironic, huh?
Today, all statues are accepted, including one that stands in Washington D.C., and is a powerful reminder of a great warrior King that united the Hawaiian islands.
However, as a reminder the original statue stands where the great King was born!
Happy King Kamehameha Day! Aloha!
BIG KAHUNA TIP:
The statue grounds is FREE to all, so realize this before being a harsh critic. Yes, not much to do, like the first reviewer mentions, but that’s the magical part of these sites– feeling the mana and appreciating life and history. I love places like this… A visitor center that welcomes all, a few tiny cafés, and a small town that holds the history intact. We don’t want another Kaka’ako, do we?
NOTE:
This is a sacred place for native Hawaiians and most locals of Hawai’i.
So, it might not have the impact to the haole. That’s not an insult, but rather a fact.
If it doesn’t bleed in you– you’ll never know.
All we ask is to approach this area with the utmost respect.
LIVE ALOHA…
Unilocal REVIEW #297

This statue of King Kamahameha I is located at the North Kohala Civic Center. When you are driving along Hwy 270, you will see it at the corner of Kapa’au Rd, right across from Ackerman’s Galleries and Kings View Café. The sculpture is supposed to be the restored original. It sank during a shipwreck but was later recovered and erected here to honor the king’s birthplace. The one in Honolulu is technically a replica.
It is a nice little place. You can read some old excerpts and photos of the early immigrants to the island. The police station is behind the civic center.