Royal Order of Kamehameha I, Kahekili Chapter IV, Mamo Keoki Sousa (left) and Mano Rodney Pa’ahana drape lei on the statue of Queen Ka’ahumanu Friday evening at the Queen Ka’ahumanu Center during a protocol celebrating the queen’s 250th birthday. “It was an awesome honor,” Sousa said. Ka’ahumanu was the favorite and most politically powerful wife of King Kamehameha I. It’s believed she was born on or close to March 17, 1768, and died June 5, 1832.

SECOND PHOTO: Members of the ‘Ahahui Ka’ahumanu Society pay tribute to Queen Ka’ahumanu with a mele and hula Friday evening on the eve of the 250th anniversary of the queen’s birth. The society awarded Ka’ahumanu Awards to Bessie DeMello and Grace Spencer during Friday’s ceremony. First-place winners in the society’s student essay and art contest included Olive Langford of Paia Elementary School in the Kindergarten Division, Hi’ipoi Starbuck of Kamehameha Maui in the grades 1 to 2, Kaimalino Katjang of Paia Elementary School in grades 3 to 5 and Riley Regan of Seabury Hall in the grades 6 to 8.