When the United States was under British rule, kings and queens were part of everyday life. But when the country became independent, these rulers became obsolete and were instead replaced by presidents. And while the mainland chooses not to celebrate any kind of royalty, Hawaiian people do have their own king. King Kamehameha united the islands in the 1800s, and since then he was been honored every day on King Kamehameha Day.
He's regarded as the greatest Hawaiian chief of all time, and while he's no longer ruling today, many people still choose to honor his life and his legacy. In fact, the islands are covered in statues of him.