Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea

July 31 marks Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea, Sovereignty Restoration Day, in the state of Hawaiʻi. Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea celebrates the restoration of sovereignty to the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi on July 31, 1843, after a five-month-long illegal seizure and occupation by rogue agents of the British government. 

A national holiday, the kingdom's first, was established by King Kamehameha III following recognition of sovereignty, upon which he proclaimed, "Ua mau ke ea o ka ʻāina i ka pono" ("the sovereignty of the kingdom continues because we are righteous"). The phrase would become Hawaiʻi's official state motto (commonly translated as "the life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness"). 

In 1985, Dr. Kekuni Blaisdell reestablished Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea as a community event and vehicle to reclaim and restore Hawaiian independence. Rep. Mark Nakashima introduced a bill in 2022 to commemorate Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea as a special day of observance in the state; and then-Gov. David Ige held a commemorative bill presentation marking the bill's passage later that year.

"I believe that by writing this historic day into modern law it will serve as an ever-present and enduring opportunity for Hawaiians and the rest of the people of Hawaiʻi to learn of the Hawaiian past and make personal connections with each other in the process," Nakashima said.

Public events commemorating Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea are free and organized by "teachers, students, activists, farmers, artists, scholars, entrepreneurs, and families who have dedicated years to this celebration," according to the group that organizes the monthlong celebration. Click the image for more.

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