"July 31 is a national holiday known as Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea (Sovereignty Restoration Day). King Kamehameha III established this holiday in a days-long celebration following the rightful return of sovereign government to Hawaiʻi by the United Kingdom, after an illegal seizure by one of their representatives. He proclaimed, “Ua mau ke ea o ka ʻāina i ka pono”, the ea (sovereignty, life, breath) of our land is perpetuated through justice. Hawaiians continue to breathe life into our sovereignty, and one way we do this is to celebrate ka Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea. After decades of suppression, the celebrations were revived in 1985 by Uncle Kekuni Blaisdell and other kānaka aloha ʻāina as a way to give voice to Hawaiian independence and to issues surrounding the return and demilitarization of Hawaiian lands." (LHE Website)
This year, Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea honors two leaders from Waimānalo, Bumpy Kanahele and Liwai Kaʻawa of Nation of Hawaiʻi. Go to Thomas Square on Sunday July 30 to be a part of this celebration. MHPCS will have a booth there, alongside other vendors and educational groups, so go and say "aloha" to our kumu while taking part in this important cultural event.
