HONOLULU – The City and County of Honolulu, through the Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts (MOCA), in partnership with the Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī Coalition and the Hawaiʻinuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge, will honor the first officially recognized Hawaiian History Month this September.
A press conference will be held on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. at Kapolei Hale, with participants gathering at the ʻUmeke Lāʻau art installation by Native Hawaiian artist Meleanna Aluli Meyer.
A Historic First
This year marks a milestone for Hawaiʻi following the passage of Act 167 (2024), which officially designates September as Hawaiian History Month. The designation reflects decades of advocacy led by the Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī Coalition and community partners committed to ensuring that Hawaiʻi’s true history is honored and shared.
“Hawaiian History Month is our opportunity to honor Queen Liliʻuokalani’s legacy and ensure that the full story of Hawaiʻi—our struggles, our resilience, and our triumphs—is never forgotten,” said Malia Nobrega-Olivera, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Community Engagement at the Hawaiʻinuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge. “These events invite us to walk in the footsteps of our kūpuna, to celebrate our Queen, and to come together as a community in the history that continues to shape our future.”
Honoring Hawaiʻi’s History
Hawaiian History Month coincides with the birthday of Queen Liliʻuokalani on September 2, ensuring her memory and contributions remain central to the month’s observances. Throughout September, communities across Hawaiʻi will gather for mele, film showcases, walking tours, and cultural presentations designed to reflect on the past, engage in the present, and envision Hawaiʻi’s future.
“It is deeply important for the City and County of Honolulu to honor the history of the place we call home,” said Mayor Rick Blangiardi. “Hawaiian History Month ensures these stories continue to be shared with residents and visitors alike. This is history that should be honored and passed down to future generations, and the City is committed to making sure it lives on at the heart of our community.”
MOCA will present multimedia programming throughout the month at Kapolei Hale and Mission Memorial Auditorium, alongside a digital campaign spotlighting the history of each of Oʻahu’s six moku. The celebration will culminate with an in-person talk story session featuring an intergenerational panel representing Native Hawaiian voices from across the island.
“These programs bring the community together to reflect on our past, engage in dialogue about our present, and envision a future rooted in aloha ʻāina,” said Jennifer Santos, Executive Director of MOCA.
Hawaiian History Month Press Conference
Date: Tuesday, September 02, 2025
Time: 12 p.m.
Location: Kapolei Hale, 1000 Uluʻōhiʻa St #103, Kapolei, HI 96707
Confirmed speakers:
- Jennifer Santos, Honolulu Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts
- State Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole
- Dean Jon Osorio, UH Mānoa Hawaiʻinuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge
- Mehana Hind, Senior Advisor at the Hawaiian Council
- Malia Nobrega-Olivera, Strategic Partnerships Director, UH Mānoa Hawaiʻinuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge
—PAU—
