Consulate Activities
2016/11/16
King Kalakaua's 180th Birthday Celebration
November 16 was a memorable day that celebrated the 180th birthday of the seventh king of the Kingdom of Hawaii, King David Kalakaua. King Kalakaua visited Japan in 1881 and received a warm welcome as the first foreign monarch to make an official state visit to Japan. On his visit, King Kalakaua met with Emperor Meiji and invited Japan to send settlers to work on Hawaii's agricultural plantations. This proposal lead to the dispatch of nearly 22,000 Japanese immigrants to Hawaii between 1885 and 1924 in order to cultivate crops like sugarcane. Through this turn of events, King Kalakaua is affectionately known as the "Father of Japanese Immigration to Hawaii."
The bronze statue of King Kalakaua that stands at the entrance of Waikiki was donated by the Nikkei community in 1985, 100 years after the arrival of the first contracted Japanese immigrant workers (Kanyaku Imin), in appreciation of the accomplishments of King Kalakaua. Every year on the birthday of King Kalakaua, a ceremony co-sponsored by the United Japanese Society of Hawaii and the Grand Lodge Hawaii F&AM is held in front of this statue. Following his predecessor Consul General Shigeeda, this year Consul General Misawa was also recognized for his contributions to the promotion of exchange between Japan and Hawaii.
The bronze statue of King Kalakaua that stands at the entrance of Waikiki was donated by the Nikkei community in 1985, 100 years after the arrival of the first contracted Japanese immigrant workers (Kanyaku Imin), in appreciation of the accomplishments of King Kalakaua. Every year on the birthday of King Kalakaua, a ceremony co-sponsored by the United Japanese Society of Hawaii and the Grand Lodge Hawaii F&AM is held in front of this statue. Following his predecessor Consul General Shigeeda, this year Consul General Misawa was also recognized for his contributions to the promotion of exchange between Japan and Hawaii.