Heroes of Hawaii
Gohawaii.com, Hawaii’s official tourism web site, has a feature called Heroes of Hawaii which tells visitors where they can find statues on important figures from the state’s past. There are two statues of King Kamehameha on the Big Island, and one on Oahu. King Kamehameha united the Hawaiian Islands into one royal kingdom in 1810 and is remembered as a great warrior, diplomat, and leader. The tallest of the statues, at 14 feet, is located in front of the Hilo Public Library. Hilo is also home to the Naha Stone, which a young Kamehameha was said to have overturned in a feet of incredible strength. Legend had it that whoever had the strength to move the Naha Stone would rule the Hawaiian Islands. Every July 11th, on Kamehameha Day, each of the statues are ceremoniously draped with flower lei to celebrate Hawaii’s greatest king.