Keaweaweʻula Kīwalaʻō Kauikeaouli Kaleiopapa statue at Thomas Square Park
HONOLULU – The public is invited to commemorate the 183rd Anniversary of Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea (Sovereignty Restoration Day) on Sunday, July 27, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Thomas Square Park.
Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea marks July 31, 1843, when sovereignty was restored to King Kamehemeha III following a five-month British occupation. Today, the day continues to serve as a powerful symbol of Hawaiian self-determination and the enduring significance of ea—sovereignty, life, and the right to govern one’s own land.
“The oldest Hawaiian National Holiday, ka Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea, celebrates the strength and resiliency of the Hawaiian Kingdom and the enduring struggle for justice, sovereignty, and self-determination,” said Imaikalani Winchester, event organizer. “It serves as a powerful reminder of the legacy of our ancestors who fought to uphold Hawaiian independence against foreign hostility. In July, Hawaiʻi echoes the powerful words of Kamehameha III, Kauikeaouli, who after five months of British occupation over his Kingdom, victoriously proclaimed, Ua mau ke ea o ka ʻaina i ka pono – the sovereignty of the Hawaiian Nation endures through law and order.”
Thomas Square, the original site of the 1843 restoration, became the modern-day gathering place for the movement when Dr. Kekuni Blaisdell, a respected physician and Hawaiian sovereignty advocate, revived the celebration in 1985. Each year, the event honors individuals who have championed Hawaiian independence. This year’s honorees are Likookalani Martin and the late Abel Simeona Lui.
The City and County of Honolulu is proud to support this community-led gathering, which features cultural presentations, music, food, educational booths, a lei-draping ceremony, and culminates in a symbolic flag exchange, with the lowering of the Union Jack and the raising of the Hawaiian flag to represent the Hawaiian Kingdom’s restored independence.
“Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea is a deeply meaningful day that uplifts the history, resilience, and empowers Native Hawaiian people,” said Jennifer Santos, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts. “We are honored to stand alongside our community in commemorating this moment and affirming the importance of ea for generations to come.”
Hui Aloha ʻĀina Momona organizes this year’s event in collaboration with Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea Honolulu.
Event Details:
What: 183rd Anniversary of Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea
When: Sunday, July 27, 2025 | 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Where: Thomas Square Park, 925 Beretania St., Honolulu, HI 96814
Learn more about Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea at lahoihoiea.org.
—PAU—
