Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 27, Number 4, 1 April 2010 — "Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono." [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

"Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono."

Most have no inkīing ofthe important link to the past ofmany things we know today. A closer īook is required to ajford us a more complete understanding ofthe breadth and depth of Hawai'i' s history. The motto ofthe Hawaiian Kingdom, "Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono," seems īike a good pīaee to start . In February of 1843, HBMS Carysfort, under the command of Lord George Paulet entered Honolulu harbor from Valparaiso, Chile, to investigate the claims made by British Consulate Charlton of unfair treatment of British subjects and proceeded making outrageous demands on the Hawaiian govemment. Paulet threatened to open fire on Honolulu if the government

was not handed over to him in the name of the British crown. Kamehameha III surrendered the kingdom to avoid hos-

tilities but did so under written protest and pending the outcome of the mission of his diplomats in Europe. On March 7, 1843, in the Hawaiian language newspaper Ka Nonanona, Kamehameha III explained to his people the events that had transpired and declared: "Ua hā'awi au i ke ea o ka 'āina o kakou" - "I have given

awa_y uui ōu vwiwi^iit_y, and the nation held its

uieam. News of Paulet's actions reached the British Admiralty in Valparaiso, Chile, and in July of 1843, Rt. Lord Admiral Richard Thomas y of the HMS Dublin, arrived in Honolulu in direct response. I Admiral Thomas requested an audience I with the King, and after meeting with KameH hameha III, determined that the complaints 9 by British officers did not warrant a takeover. x He ordered the immediate restoration of the IS Hawaiian government - whieh took plaee on L Julv 3 1 at a urand ceremonv at what is known

today as Thomas Square. Following the official ceremony, a service of thanksaivina was held at Kawaiaha'o Church, and

Kauikeaouli, Kamehameha III proclaimed before a large crowd, "Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono," meaning that the nation's "ea" was "mau" or steadfast, solid or ongoing, "i ka pono" through righteousness, justice or virtue. "The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness" is an appropriate translation, and while other English wordings are possible, none ean fully contain both the historical context and the muhiple implications the Hawaiian words convey. In subsequent years, July 31, 1843, had been declared and celebrated as a national holiday known as Lā Ho'iho'i Ea, Hawaiian Restoration Day. ■

BACKGR0UND

uikeaouli, Kamehameha III iroclaimed, "Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono" at a July 31 , 1843, ceremony in Thomas Square following the restoration of the Hawaiian government after a British takeover. - Photo: KWO archives Mw:The 'lolani Palaee gates display the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Hawai'i. - Photo: Blaine Fergerstrom