By the time the pageant starts, the heat has started to rise and the kids are getting sweaty and uncomfortable, but they line up like troupers. They are arranged by grade in rows around the pageant field and their parents are assembled behind them. The Royal Court lines up on the grass to be presented to the audiance.
Each island is represented by their own prince and princess, dressed in the colors of their selected island. They are presented in order of their place in the island chain.
Red represents the Big Island of Hawaii. It is the color of the beautiful Lehua Blossoms that grow on the sides of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa.
Pink represents Maui, for the Maui Rose.
Gray represents the barren landscape of the island of Kaho'olawe. Kaho'olawe has suffered a severe fate since World War II. It was used by the military as a training facility for many years. A massive cleanup effort was launched several years ago, in an attempt to return the island to the Hawaiian people.
Orange represents the island of Lanai.
Purple represents the island of Kauai.
White represents Ni'ihau at the top end of the island chain.
The conch shell blowers line up at the front of the pageant field to announce the arrival of the king and queen. They run from the top of the field to the courtyard area to announce to the crowd that their king and queen have arrived and that proper respect should be shown.
The queen and her court dance the first dance for the crowd. Then her court of ladies in waiting and the island princesses will return to their seating area and let her dance for the crowd alone.
The king dances next.
After the King and Queen have danced, the students entertain their court with a pageant that represents their cultures and the current events of their world. This year Japan was on everyone's mind. There were dances to honor the disaster victims, dances that showcased the music the kids love today and dances that reflected back on Ho'olaulei'as of the past as students danced around a traditional May Pole.
And the seniors are graduated and ready to move on.