Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 39, Number 8, 1 August 2022 — Lā Ho'iho'i Ea - Restoring a Nation [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Lā Ho'iho'i Ea - Restoring a Nation

By Healani Sonoda-Pale For the past few years, there has been an effort at the Hawai'i State Legislature to designate Lā Ho'iho'i Ea a recognized state holiday in Hawai'i. A national holiday of the Hawaiian Kingdom, Lā Ho'iho'i Ea celebrated the restoration of the kingdom's sovereignty on July 31, 1843, after a five-month long British occupation of the Hawaiian Islands. This year, the state legislature passed House Bill 2475, whieh Gov. David Ige signed into law as Act 082 on July 18. It establishes July 31 as "Lā Ho'iho'i Ea" whieh means "Sovereignty Restoration Day." Act 082 brings Lā Ho'iho'i Ea on par with other honorific days like Lei Day and Buddha Day. Although it is still not a recognized state holiday, this recognition is nevertheless a step forward towards helping to expand the political consciousness of both Kānaka Maoli and the puhlie on the true history of an independent Hawaiian Nation. First celebrated in 1843, this Hawaiian Kingdom holiday was all but forgotten for decades until it was revived by a handful of Aloha Āina led by Dr. Kekuni Blaisdell in 1986 at Thomas Square.

July 31, 1843, was the day that Admiral Richard Ihomas of the British government ordered the Union Jack lowered and the Hawaiian Kingdom flag raised at the Honolulu park that was later named in his honor. On that victorious day, King Kamehameha III proclaimed, "Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono," whieh translates as the "sovereignty of the land is perpetuated in righteousness." Lā Ho'iho'i Ea was celebrated both here and abroad for half a century until the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy in 1893. The theft of our lands, suppression of our history, and the criminalization of our language followed. Erasure of our identity and proud history was a necessary part of the American assimilation of Kānaka Maoli and the continued occupation of our islands. Today, we have Kānaka Maoli leaders like Dr. Noelani Goodyear-Kaōpua, Lynette Cruz, and Imai Winchester to thank for elevating the status of this Hawaiian holiday whieh serves to increase the visibility of the plight of Aloha Āina in our struggle for self-determination, sovereignty, and the return of our lands. Lā Ho'iho'i Ea has now heeome a month-long celebration. Communities both here on O'ahu and the neighbor islands celebrate the restoration of our Nation's sovereignty in 1843 with the intention to one day attain justice for Hawai'i's Native people. ■

Every year on Lō Ho'iho'i Eo, groups of Kōnoko Maoli coordinoted by Unele Ku Ching roise the hoe Howoi'i on the summit of Mounokeo - the highest point in the poe 'ōino. - Photo: Mikey lnouye