Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 30, Number 7, 1 July 2013 — Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea A Hawaiian national holiday [ARTICLE]

Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea A Hawaiian national holiday

On July 31, 1843, the Hawaiian Kingdom celebrated its restored sovereignty after five months of British occupation under Lord George Paulet. In February that year, King Kauikeaouli refused to meet Paulet's demands stemming fromcomplaints of British nationals. Kauikeaouli explained that his emissaries were enroute to Britain to address those concems, but to no avail. Pressured by Paulet's warship, the HMS Carysfort, Kauikeaouli abdicated under protest. Paulet ordered the Hawaiian flag lowered and the British flag raised. Kauikeaouli's adviser, Gerrit Judd, penned a protest to Queen Victoria who sent Admiral Richard Thomas to assess the situation. Thomas' investigation culminated on July 3 1 at a ceremony in the area known today as Thomas Square. There he formally restored Hawai'i's sovereignty, and the Hawaiian flag Hew proudly onee more. The crowd reassembled at Kawaiaha'o Church where Kauikeaouli offered a rousing speech proclaiming, "Ua mau ke ea o ka 'āina i ka pono" - the sovereignty of the land is perpetuated through righteousness. Thereafter, Lā Ho'iho'i Ea was celebrated as a Hawaiian national holiday. In 1893,Lili'uokalanifollowed Kauikeaouli's precedent when she abdicated her throne under protest to the United States. She expected that Presidents Harrison, Cleveland or McKinley would restore her sovereignty and correct the unauthorized acts of U.S. Minister Stevens and Captain Wiltse of the USS Boston. But that would not eome to pass. Today, we celebrate Lā Ho'iho'i Ea as a reminder of our unrelinquished sovereignty. ■