A little rain couldn't keep hundreds of people from gathering at 'Iolani Palace yesterday for the third annual Onipa'a celebration to honor the birthday of Queen Lili'uokalani.

The event, sponsored by the Hawai'i Pono Coalition, marked the 171st anniversary of the queen's birth and the centennial of the trust she established in 1909 to care for her people's orphans and destitute children.

There was traditional chanting, music and dancing, and performances by the Queen Lili'uokalani Children's Chorus, Amy Hanaiali'i, Olomana and other groups.

Admission to the palace was free, and a long line formed in the soft rain.

Sean and Nancy Lorenzo of Wai'anae sat on the lawn under umbrellas during the ceremony with their children Eva, 16; Sianna, 10; and Keoni, 7.

Sean Lorenzo said the family wanted to honor the queen and show respect for the way she had helped children in need.

"We thought it was important for our children to be exposed to the queen's heritage," Nancy said.

Speakers at the event called on people to carry on the queen's legacy by remembering those in need, especially the keiki.

Claire Asam and Patrick Yim, two of the three trustees of the Queen Lili'uokalani Trust, said the organization has nine units statewide, with a presence on every island except Ni'ihau.

The trust helps children in need with individual and family support, counseling, therapy groups, limited financial aid, community groups, partnerships with businesses and other efforts, they said.

"In a year, we usually serve 1,500 orphans and 9,000 destitute children with our direct aid programs and about 35,000 more a year through our community building efforts," Asam said.

Asam and Yim said the endowment of the trust, mainly invested in land in Waikiki and Kona, is about $500 million.

Asam said the trust responds to changing social problems in the community. For example, a recent emphasis has been placed on helping grandparents raising grandkids because their parents are incarcerated or have drug problems.

Paul Flores, of Nanakuli, said the Hawaiian studies and youth leadership program at Wai'anae High School sponsored by the trust set him on the path to his position at the University of Hawai'i with Na Pua No'eau, which offers "academic enrichment opportunities for gifted and talented Native Hawaiian children."

Flores said he thought the next generation of Native Hawaiian leaders, while honoring the many contributions of their ancestors, faced new obstacles and needed to merge the strengths of Western and Native Hawaiian cultures to "create a new universal leadership."