Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 6, Number 7, 1 July 1989 — Hawaiian Flag Day To Be Observed July 31 [ARTICLE]

Hawaiian Flag Day To Be Observed July 31

The history of Hawai'i is inextricably intertwined with the Hawaiian flag, and now a special day, July 31, has been designated in its honor by the State Legislature and Governor Waihee. Hawaiian Flag Day will be observed in Hawai'i on that day, with special ceremonies. An open house and program are planned at Pu'ukohola Heiau Nahonal Park on the island of Hawai'i. The flag of Kamehameha and an officially dedicated Hawaiian flag are displayed at the park. Mauna 'Ala, the Royal Mausoleum in Nu'uanu valley, will also hold an open house from 8 a.m to 4:30 p.m. The first official (correctly proportioned and rendered) Hawaiian flag of the modern period now flies at Mauna 'Ala. It is presently the only plaee in Hawai'i where the Hawaiian flag always has precedence over the American flag. July 31 was selected as the day to honor "Ka Hae Hawai'i" to commemorate the most dramatic and moving episode in the long history of the Hawaiian flag. According to the House concurrent resolution whieh led to designating Hawaiian flag day, in 1843 ". . ,the commander of a British ship seized the Hawaiian islands. The Hawaiian chiefs reluctantly agreed to provisionally cede the islands to Great

Britain, then the world's most powerful nation, and Hawaiian flags were ordered to be destroyed. . ." "When British Admiral RichardThomas learned of this event, he set sail for Hawai'i from South America, and, based on an order for all eommanders of British ships to treat all Pacific Island rulers with "great forebearance and courtesy," restored the Kingdom. "Hawaiian flags that had been hidden were immediately displayed throughout the islands, and on July 31, 1843 the Hawaiian flag was raised in a ceremony attended by happy throngs of people, who engaged in prolonged and deafening cheering as they gazed at their beloved flag billowing onee again over an independent nation.

"The current State motto, 'Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono," translated as, "The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness," was first declared publicly at this ceremony. "The following ten days were proclaimed as holiday, and filled with joyous celebration and feasting. Admiral Thomas' action to restore the Kingdom was later confirmed by Queen Victoria. "The Hawaiian flag continued to serve as the flag of the Kingdom, then later as the flag of the Republie, the Territory, and now the State of Hawaii." A bill to codify the state flag and set proper protocol was introduced in this year's legislature by Rep. Annelle C. Amaral. While the bill did not pass supporters plan to try again in the next session.