KAPAA — A lot of people are not aware of how King Kamehameha IV, Queen Emma and other sovereigns affect the lives we live today, said David Murray, the senior warden at the All Saints Episcopal Church and Preschool in Kapaa.

“King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma petitioned the Bishop of Oxford to bring the Anglican Church to Hawaii,” said Chucky Boy Chock of the Royal Order of Kamehameha, Kaumuali‘i Chapter. “After the overthrow of Queen Lililuokalani, the Royal Order was disbanded, and it was through the efforts of Prince Jonah Kuhio that the Royal Order was resurrected. We celebrate not only these leaders, but all of Kauai.”

Several hundred people collected Sunday at All Saints to celebrate the Feast of Holy Sovereigns. The lives and accomplishments of King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma were celebrated with a service that featured the major Hawaiian groups offering hookupu, use of the Hawaiian language and hula under the governances of Hawaii protocol.

“This is good to have a service like this,” said Carol Lovell of the Hale O Na Alii group. “We used to have a lot of services in Hawaiian at the First Hawaiian Church, but now, it’s down to just one service, the one at the Mokihana Festival. “

The celebratory service was combined with the blessing of the Queen’s Chapel that adjoins the main church hall, which recently had major work completed.

“This is something I needed to do before I leave,” said the Rev. Ryan Newman, the All Saints rector and head of school. “The altar shelf is a piece of wood from Lydgate Park. A stained glass celebrating Emma’s journey to Kauai will replace the current window, and there is still a little more work to be done.”

Murray said the Feast of the Holy Sovereigns almost always follow the Emmalani Festival which celebrates Emma’s trip to Kauai.

“But we’re not just celebrating Emma,” Murray said. “We’re honoring all of the alii and that is why it is ‘The Queen’s Chapel,’ not just Queen Emma.”

During his homily, Murray said this is the 14th year All Saints has been celebrating the Feast of Our Holy Sovereigns. The Anglican church responded to King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma’s petition when the Rt. Rev. Thomas Staley arrived with two priests on Oct. 11, 1862. A month later, the king and queen were confirmed after which they started preparations for a cathedral and school, and the king set about to translate the Book of Common Prayer and much of the hymnal.

Following the death of King Kamehameha IV in 1864, the queen declined to rule; instead, she committed her life to good works and was responsible for founding schools and churches and efforts on behalf of the poor and sick.

••• Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.