Protocol based on the guidance and pursuant to Hawaiʻi Revised Statute 8-5. Subject to change at the discretion of the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission. 

• King Kamehameha Celebration Commission General Public Information for Oʻahu Lei Draping Ceremony:
• All Lei to be closed (tied) and approximately 30 feet in length when measured open, but no shorter than 20 feet.
• Lei in kui pololei or kui poepoe method to be placed on the right arm of the statue.
• Lei fashioned in the wili, wili poepoe, hili, haku, hīpuʻu or humu papa methods may be draped at the base of the statue or placed on the left arm of the statue.
• Please keep weight to under 20 pounds if possible.
• Only natural, biodegradable plant materials to be used, thread, string, nuts, and seeds are allowed.
• Upon arrival, please register at Check-In Tent next to the parking lot near the statue for further direction.
• Lei will be presented in the order below. For any group not listed below, your lei will be presented in the order of time stamp on online registration or time of check in at the Check-In Table on the day of the event with the final order at the discretion of the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission.
• Please label lei so the emcee can make the necessary acknowledgements. Label to include name of organization, short description (50 words or less) of the organization, description of lei materials, lei making method, any other significant information that might be notable. Name(s) of presenter(s) and title(s) should also be included. Also, note whether your group would like to present lei at the statue, oli or hoʻokupu. 
• Lei may be delivered in advance to be presented by group/organization to the designated receiver at the Check-in Tent and logged, it is then placed on the lawn, after 2:00 p.m. the lei draping order will be designated and then draped.
• Lei will be grouped and draped at the discretion of the KKCC appointee(s).
• Those wishing to give oli or hoʻokupu please note that floral arrangements and bouquets are welcome however lei are preferred, but no food items, liquids (libations), rocks, crystals, or candles please.
• Pūʻolo lāʻī (tī leaf wrapped bundles) will not be accepted as hoʻokupu in itself. It is permissible to have lei kept inside but the lei/floral tribute must be removed from them prior to its contents’ presentation at the statue. The remnants of the pūʻolo lāʻī must be taken with presenter(s) and not left at the statue.
• RSVP by Monday, June 9, 2025, prior to the Lei Draping Ceremony via the following link: forms.gle/Un5Jzvkv6BYVyzAm6. A confirmation email will be provided to confirm receipt of your requested reservation. 

Timeline 

• 2:30 pm: Royal Hawaiian Band Performs
• 3:00 pm: Welcome by Emcees and formal Lei Draping Ceremony to begin with Pule and Oli

Hawaiian Benevolent Societies

• Royal Order of Kamehameha I
• ʻAhahui Kaʻahumanu
• Hale O Nā Ali’i O Hawaiʻi
• Daughters & Sons of Hawaiian Warriors, Māmakakaua
• Daughters of Hawai‘i

Ali‘i Trusts

• Kamehameha Schools
• Lunalilo Home
• Lili‘uokalani Trust
• Queen’s Health System

Governmental Entities

• Hawai‘i Congressional delegates
• Governor, State of Hawai‘i
  • State Departments – Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA), Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA), Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL), etc.
• Judiciary
• Hawai‘i State Legislators
• Mayor, City & County of Honolulu
• Mayors from other Hawai‘i counties

Elected officials must be present, no proxies

Parade Representatives

• Mōʻī
• Grand Marshal
• Pāʻū

Event Sponsors

• Kilohana by Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement

KKCC Organizations

• Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs
• Kamehameha Schools Alumni Association
• Kapahulu Music Club
• Waimānalo Hawaiian Homestead Association
• Papakōlea Community Association
• Island Commissioners

General Public

All others at the discretion of the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission, time allowing based on the order received day of the event.

Closing protocol

Removal of lei and other items

Please note, removal of lei, hoʻokupu or other items presented during the Lei Draping Ceremony will officially take place between 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. on the following Monday morning. Removal is based on availability of the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Accounting and General Services grounds crew. The crew will remove and dispose of all lei, hoʻokupu and any other objects that are not original to the statue or surrounding grounds. This removal will be done utilizing standard grounds keeping practices and policies in accordance with the general maintenance of the area. Anyone wishing to retrieve floral arrangements, containers or hoʻokupu that they or their organization specifically may have contributed during the Lei Draping Ceremony may do so in advance of this planned removal. We do not permit the removal of 30’ lei hung on the statue as it may result in damage to the statue. In most cases the plant material and lei will have withered because of the direct sunlight. Those wishing to retrieve their property should plan accordingly and dispose at their discretion. Any items that remain at 6 a.m. will be disposed of as described above. 

PDF: KKCC Protocol 2025 Oahu Lei Draping Ceremony