Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 35, Number 7, 1 Iulai 2018 — Lā Ho'iho'i Ea celebrates the return of sovereignty to the Hawaiian Kingdom [ARTICLE]

Lā Ho'iho'i Ea celebrates the return of sovereignty to the Hawaiian Kingdom

Contributed by the Kamehameha Schools Ho'okahua Cultural Vibrancy Group Did you know that the Hawaiian Kingdom had its own nahonal holidays that were celebrated with as mueh zeal and pride as the Fourth of July is by Americans and Bastille Day by the French? Lā Ho'iho'i Ea, literally the day sovereignty was restored, was a holiday celebrated in the Kingdom of Hawai'i. Modern observations of this day include ceremonies taking plaee at different sites around Hawai'i, including a key commemoration at Thomas Square in Honolulu. The following is a narrative of the events that brought about this important day. In the year 1825, Richard Charlton arrived in Hawai'i to assume the newly-created position of British ambassador to the islands. Fifteen years later, in 1 840, his false elaim to a parcel of land sparked the "Paulet Episode," causing the forced cession and restoration of the sovereignty of the Hawaiian Islands. To substantiate his elaim, Charlton submitted to Kauikeaouli, King Kamehameha III, what he asserted to be a 299-year lease for the land in question. This land was not his personal residence, Wailele, but an adjoining parcel named Pūlaholaho whieh was occupied by the retainers and heirs of Ka'ahumanu. Charlton attested that it was granted to him by Kalanimoku in 1826. Kamehameha III rejected the elaim, citing the fact that Kalanimoku, then kuhina nui or prime minister of the Hawaiian Kingdom, did not have the authority in 1 826 to grant the lease, At that time, Ka'ahumanu was kuhina nui, and only she and the king had the power to execute such grants. Nearly two years after his elaim was rejected, Charlton prepared to return to England to further press his case against the Hawaiian government. Before taking leave, he appointed Alexander Simpson to assume the role of "acting consul" in his stead. Simpson was a Hudson's Bay Company trader stationed in Honolulu. The Hawaiian government, however, never recognized Simpson as the legitimate replacement for Consul Charlton. Charlton set sail in September of 1842. Lord George Paulet, a captain in the British Navy, was in Mexico when Charlton arrived there

en route to London. Having Paulet's audience, Charlton voiced his complaints about the mistreatment he and other British subjects had received in Hawai'i and promoted the idea of annexing the islands to the crown. When Charlton's story reached the ears of Rear Admiral Richard Thomas, a commander of British naval forces in the Pacific, Captain Paulet was sent to investigate the incident. He landed in Honolulu on February 10, 1843. Paulet was quite set on the idea that Hawai'i was his for the taking. He swiftly implemented the era's eommonplaee diplomatic practice of gun-boat diplomacy, whieh forced the kingdom under duress via threat of violence. On February 25, 1843, Kamehameha III ceded Hawai'i under protest and appeal to the queen of Britain. One of Paulet's earliest orders following the cession-under-protest ceremony in Honolulu was for all of the Hawaiian flags to be collected and destroyed. Meanwhile, months before this British oeeupation commenced, Kamehameha III had sent his own diplomatic envoys abroad to secure international recognition of Hawai'i as an independent nation. By mid-1843, the United States had already given their formal support

and France their verbal assurance. Admiral Thomas, after hearing conflicting reports about the situation in the islands, entered Honolulu harbor on July 26 and immediately requested an interview with the king. Edmund James Carpenter described the scene in his book, "America in Hawaii." "This officer brought the agreeable news that the act of Lord George Paulet had been disavowed and the deed of cession repudiated, and by open declaration he announced that he does not accept of the provisional cession of the Hawaiian Islands made on the twenty fifth day of February 1843 but that he considers His Majesty Kamehameha III the legitimate king of those Islands and he assures His Majesty that the sentiments of his sovereign toward him are those of unvarying friendship and esteem that Her Majesty sincerely desires King Kamehameha to be treated as an independent sovereign leaving the administration of justice in his own hands the faithful discharge of whieh will promote his happiness and the prosperity of his dominions. The flag of the Hawaiian monarchy was then restored to its plaee the British flag removed and the episode ended." On July 31,1 843, Thomas officially restored the sovereignty of the Hawaiian Islands to Kamehameha III. The Union Jack was lowered and the hae Hawai'i raised during a historic ceremony in Honolulu. The location of this event is known today as Thomas Square and was dedicated in honor of Admiral Thomas and this pivotal moment in Hawaiian history. Later that same day, Kauikeaouli addressed his people on the front steps of Kawaiaha'o Church, proclaiming what would become Hawai'i's motto: "Ua mau ke ea o ka 'āina i ka pono" The sovereignty of the land is preserved through justice This day was celebrated as a national holiday in the Hawaiian Kingdom for the next 50 years and is known as Lā Ho'iho'i Ea, Restoration Day. While Charlton's land elaim was resolved successfully by the kingdom and indirectly elevated Hawai'i's status as a member of the Family of Nations, it had another direct eonsequence: the Māhele of 1848, whieh forever changed the Hawaiian worldview of land tenure. ■

La Ho'iho'i Ea July 29, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The annual Hawaiian Restoration Day oommemoration inoludes education, cultural sharing, community networking and free music. Moani Akaka and Puanani Rogers will be honored. Free. Thomas Square, www.lahoihoiea.org. Lā Ho'iho'i Ea ceremony and statue unveiling July 31, 10 a.m. The City and County of Honolulu's celebration includes the unveiling of a statue of King Kamehameha III at the renovated Thomas Square Park, followed by the inaugural sacred lei draping. The Royal Hawaiian Band will provide music and Puakea Nogelmeier will provide keynote remarks. Free. Thomas Square Park, Honolulu, moca-info@honolulu.gov.