Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 14, Number 9, 1 September 1997 — Hahai Pono: Lā Ho ʻiho ʻi Ea [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Hahai Pono: Lā Ho ʻiho ʻi Ea

The mo'olelo of Ka Pa'akai O Ka 'Āina lengthy. It wili pū 'ia other mo'olelo. For example, in the Aug. 19, 1992, edition of the West Hawai'i Today Rose Akana Fujimori of the 'Ahahui Ka'ahumanu, Kona Chapter; Gene Keana'aina Gregory, President of the Kona Hawaiian Civic Club; Anuhea Reiman-Giegerl, Ka Po'o, Kona, Ka Lāhui Hawai'i; Kahu Leon Kepuaihelani Sterling Jr.; and I, mea kākau, submitted thoughts on the historic perspective of "Ua mau ke ea o ka 'āina i ka pono". The truth of those words was proclaimed on July 31, 1843. On that day, ka Lā Ho'iho'i Ea, the hae Hawai'i was raised again over the lslands upon the conclusion of the "Paulet Affair." In 1843, as the newcomers most significantly represented

in Hawai'i, the British felt imposed upon by the growing Americanpresence. Various quarrels and litigations arose between the two factions, reflecting the full range of personal and nahonal interests. The British eonsul charged that the British subjects in these cases were not being treated fairly, and in Februarv 1843, Lord George Paulet, captain of the frigate Cravsfort, secured provisional cession of

the Hawaiian Islands to Britain from Kauikeaouli, Kamehameha III. Threatened with violent, coercive action, Kamehameha III stated in a short address, "I have given away the life of our land, hear ye. But I have hope that the life (ea) will be restored when my conduct is justified." Perhaps trusting in the fairness of Paulet's government, Kalani Kauikeaouli bided his time, under protest and the British flag, for five months. During this time, the islands strained under a governing commission whieh increasingly interfered in Hawaiian affairs. In March, an American, James Marshall, was commissioned by the king to carry documents regarding the situation in Hawai'i, to the British Foreign Office. In May, the Hawaiian representative to the governing commission resigned in protest. Soon, the publ

he archives were removed to Pohukaina for safe keeping. On July 1 1 Ameiiean Commodore Lawrence Kearney issued a protest against the cession. On July 26, 1843, the "Paulet Affair" neared resolution with the arrival of Lord Admiral Thomas, eome to repair the damage done by cession to restore the ea o ka 'aina. TVt i q ri ah fpni 1 c:n p«c:

was realized on July 31, Lā Ho'iho'i Ea, at a ceremony at what we today know as Thomas Square in Honolulu. The hae Hawai'i was raised to its rightful posihon and Kalani Kauikeaouli recognized as sovereign onee more. It is recounted that later, at a Thanksgiving service at Kawaiha'o Church the king stated that the ea

\ V C1 vi Y / breath) of the land had been restored, perpetuated in righteousness. "Ua mau ke ea o ka 'āina i ka pono" On that November dav in 1994 when Ka Pa'akai O Ka 'Āina met for the first time before the State Land Use Commission we felt anticipation, perhaps as had Kalani Kauikeaouli. There to test the fairness of the government, we followed the directive to "Let the ea of the land be perpetuated in righteousness," "E mau ke ea o ka 'āina i ka pono." A iā 'oukou e ku'u mau hoa aloha i ka hui 'ana i ka Lā Ho'iho'i Ea i kēia makahiki, mahalo nō iā 'oukou no ko kākou huaka'i i nā wahi pana o Nu'uanu. Kaulana nō 'o Kaniakapūpū ka wahi maluhia o ka lani 'o Kauikeaouli kona inoa. Kaulana nō 'o ia i kāna ha'i 'ōlelo "Ua mau ke ea o ka 'āina i ka pono."

? Aeie to teft tAe (aU Hen o( tAe 5^1/OHmen t, we (olLoweA tAe jiiteeti\ ieo to r'Let tAe e a o( tAe U popetut(Lte4 <h *4$Ateou*Hen," f'B mau ke eA o k* KĀ4HA 4 kfi pOH 0."

Ka Wai Ola o OHA

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