National Parks Celebrate Hawaiian Flag Day

Four national parks on Hawai‘i Island will simultaneously celebrate Lā ho‘iho‘i ea, or Hawaiian Flag Day, on Thursday, July 31, the date when Hawai‘i celebrated its first national holiday in 1843, according to a Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park release.

On July 31, 1843, when the Kingdom of Hawai‘i was restored by Great Britain, following the Kingdom’s surrender to an errant commander of a Royal Navy warship, Kamehameha III, Kauikeaouli, famously proclaimed, “Ua mau ke ea o ka ‘āina i ka pono,” the life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness, which is today Hawai‘i’s state motto.

On July 26, 1990, then-Gov. John Waihe‘e signed a proclamation making every July 31 Hawaiian Flag Day, and urged Hawai‘i citizens “to observe due respect for the flag and the proud tradition for which it stands.”

The celebrations will take place at Pu‘ukoholā Heiau National Historic Site, Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park, and Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park, from 9 a.m. to noon. Learn to make your own pū ‘ohe (bamboo trumpet) starting at 9 a.m., and at 10 a.m. there will be presentations on the history of Lā ho‘iho‘i ea, Hawai‘i Pono‘ī, “Ua mau ke ea o ka ‘āina i ka pono, and ‘aha‘āina, the first lū‘au. The flag will be honored at noon.

The ceremony at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park will be from 10 a.m. to noon, with the historic presentations followed by honoring the flag at noon.

The events are free, but entrance fees apply at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park.