Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 21, Number 7, 1 July 2004 — Celebrate 'Ka Hae Hawaiʻiʻ July 31 at Puʻukoholā [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Celebrate 'Ka Hae Hawaiʻiʻ July 31 at Puʻukoholā

By Manu Boyd July 31 has for generations been known to Hawaiians as "Lā Ho'iho'i Ea," or "the day sovereignty was returned a national holiday memorializing the episode in 1843 when Admiral Richard Darton Thomas restored the rule of Kauikeaouli — King Kamehameha III. Five months earlier, Lord Paulet - without the authority of the British Crown - ordered that Hawaiian flags be destroyed, and that the British Union Jack be the official flag of the islands. On July 31, 1843, "ka hae Hawai'i," the Hawaiian flag, was hoisted at Kulaokahu'a in Honolulu, in what has since been called Thomas Square in honor of Admiral Thomas. In 1792, King Kamehameha I, in order to ensure protection of his Kingdom by Great Britain, made an agreement with British sea eaptain George Vancouver that the Union Jack be the

official flag of the Kingdom. More than two decades later in 1816, Kamehamea I commissioned Captain Alexandar Adams to create a flag that would eomhine the Union Jack with eight white, red and navy blue stripes representing eaeh of the main islands of Hawai'i. Since the time of Kamehameha I, that "hae Hawai'i" has been the official flag of the Hawaiian Kingdom, and continues today as the state's official symbol. At the time of overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, Hawaiian flag quilts were fashioned in support of the deposed Queen Lili'uokalani. Elaborate bed quilts also bore the phrases "Ku'u Hae Hawai'i" (my Hawaiian flag" or "Ku'u Hae Aloha" (my beloved flag), affirming support of the restoration of the kingdom, patriotism and aloha 'āina. Today, the Hawaiian flag flies alone at only See HAE HAWAI'I on page 18

Hanana Ki'iikawā -JV VMv HWHHHH—

At last year's celebration at Pu'ukoholō Kawaihae, Hawaiian Flag Kahu Frank Puhi (in white) haneleel the hae Hawai'i to new kahu (caretaker) Liwai Keana'ōina.

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HAE HAWAI'I from page 10

three spots in Hawai'i: Mauna 'Ala, the Royal Mausoleum in Nu'uanu; 'Iolani Palaee at Pohukaina in Honolulu; and Pu'ukoholā in Kawaihae, the luakini heiau built by King Kamehameha I. This year, Pu'ukoholā heiau will observe Lā Hae Hawai'i with ceremony and entertainment at the sacred landmark. Hawaiian flag Kahu Liwai Gregory will lead a flag procession beginning at 9 a.m. A musical tribute to Queen Lili'uokalani and hula by the Hawai'i island ensemble Hālau Hula Ka Makani Hali 'Ala o Puna will be among the day's attractions. ■