A nonbinding resolution in English and Hawaiian soon will be on its way to the Hawaii Legislature, asking the state to declare July 31 “La Hoihoi Ea,” or Restoration Day, in observance of the day in 1843 that independence was
A nonbinding resolution in English and Hawaiian soon will be on its way to the Hawaii Legislature, asking the state to declare July 31 “La Hoihoi Ea,” or Restoration Day, in observance of the day in 1843 that independence was restored to the Kingdom of Hawaii.
The Hawaii County Council on Tuesday unanimously approved Resolution 185, sponsored by Puna Councilman Danny Paleka, who is half Hawaiian.
“These things are very important to Hawaiians today and in the history of the Hawaiian Kingdom,” Paleka said.
“I will be along with you helping to lobby on the state level,” Hamakua Councilwoman Valerie Poindexter told testifiers.
The council passed the measure after removing text specifying the day “shall not be construed to be a state holiday,” and adding a Hawaiian language translation of the resolution.
About a dozen testifiers, mainly Hawaiians, supported the resolution, with most also asking that the day be allowed to be an official holiday. While the county doesn’t have the legal authority to set holidays, the testifiers wanted the council to prevail upon the state to do so.
“I urge this council to also provide the opportunity for employees of this county to elect to celebrate this historic day as well, instead of an American holiday which may not have historic or cultural meaning to island residents,” said Noe Noe Wong-Wilson, president of the Hawaiian Civic Club of Hilo.
Several testifiers also asked the council to pass similar resolutions for Queen Liliuokalani’s birthday Sept. 2 and Hawaii Independence Day on Nov. 28. Two Hawaiian holidays — Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Day in March and King Kamehameha I Day in June — are among the 13 state holidays commemorated annually.
Only one person submitted testimony opposing the measure.
“It seems to me this resolution would, in part, promote division and racism amongst the people of Hawaii,” said Pepeekeo resident Ed Johnston in written testimony. “Whenever are we going to understand that it is far better to know people by the content of their character, not race nor ethnicity.”
Restoration Day marks the day independence was restored to the Hawaiian Kingdom on July 31, 1843, after being seized and forcefully taken by Lord George Paulet, a captain of the British Royal Navy’s HMS Carysfort six months earlier. Adm. Richard Darton Thomas of the British Royal Navy on that date ordered the Union Jack removed and replaced with the Hawaiian flag, thus returning the Kingdom of Hawaii to power.
Email Nancy Cook Lauer at ncook-lauer@westhawaiitoday.com.
