Posted by Pono Kealoha on November 28, 2009 at 8:30am
La Kuokoa:Join us at the Queen's Statue for the re-enactment titled "Ka Lei Maile Alii - The Queen's Women" about the gathering of signatures for the petitions protesting annexation of Hawaii to the U.S. 10 am in front of the Queen's Statue. After that we'll head over to the ahu on the Palace grounds to celeb...rate 166 years of Hawaii's independence.Excerpts from "La Kuokoa"By Noenoe K. Silva,1998La Ku'oko'a--Hawai'i's Independence Day--was officially celebratedaround the same time as Thanksgiving from about 1844 until 1895, andfor some years afterwards unofficially. La Ku'oko'a is the 28th ofNovember. It marks the day, November 28, 1843, that the Ali'i TimoteoHa'alilio succeeded in obtaining the signatures of the authorities ofGreat Britain and France on a treaty recognizing Hawai'i as asovereign nation. Ha'alilio, with the missionary William Richardsalong as his secretary, traveled through Mexico on foot and donkey toWashington D.C., where they met President John Tyler. President Tyleragreed to the intent of the proposed treaty. Ha'alilio and Richards,armed with his agreement, then went on to Europe, to Belgium, Paris,and London, where the treaty was finally signed. They returned to theUnited States to cement U.S. agreement. On the journey Ke Ali'iTimoteo Ha'alilio died, on December 3, 1844.Although the treaty of independence did not solve Hawai'i'sproblem--being a target for colonizers--it was a substantialachievement under international law. This achievement was recognizedby the government of the kingdom through the official celebration ofLa Ku'oko'a.After the haole coup in 1893, and the attempted counter coup of 1895,the so-called Republic of Hawai'i government announced that November28, 1895 --a Thursday--would not be celebrated as La Ku'oko'a.Thanksgiving would become the official national holiday instead.The po'e aloha 'aina--the thousands of Kanaka Maoli opposed to theillegal haole government--were incensed. They ignored thegovernment's orders, and held celebrations of La Ku'oko'a instead. Atthose gatherings, they told the story of Ha'alilio's journey andsignificant achievement. James Kaulia of the Hui Aloha Aina said thatthe Kanaka Maoli recalled with gladness the restoration andperpetuation of the independence of Hawaii, but that their happinesswas mixed with feelings of distress because the right to independencehad been snatched from the shoulders of the Kanaka Maoli. He said: Keku nei ke kanaka Hawaii me he kuewa la, aohe ona aina: The Hawaiianperson stands as a homeless vagabond, one who has no land.The colonizers of 1895-1896 not only deprived Hawaii of a nationalholiday, they enacted laws which caused us the loss of our languageand the related loss of our own history. That process caused us to bedeprived of even the memory of this national holiday.Source: _Ke Aloha Aina_ (Hawaiian language newspaper)November-December 1895, January 1896.
When I woke up this morning I had no idea that I was going to carry a 'distressed' Hawaiian Flag through out Waianae in a Xmas parade. Nor did I expect to have a resistance from my own grandchild and soon after an apology about the flag being upside down. It was a growing experience for all of us. One interesting experience as I walked I chanted La Ku'oko'a and I got a full group response from Micronesian children--they almost immediately chanted the exact words back... The second thing was the homeless people also too responded with their hearts and soul. It was very touching! As for the Na Kanaka's confusion, resistance and responded with Mele Kalikimaka.
I missed Dee Dee a lot today. We have the script and will reenact the play out here in Waianae. Love to all Kaohi
ALOHA Kakou, e Hawaii, Mahalo nui to the organizers and for those attended the La Kuokoa Gathering at the Queen's Statue and at the Ahu at Iolani Palace today. As always the re-enactment titled "Ka Lei Maile Alii - The Queen's Women" about the gathering of signatures for the petitions protesting annexation of Hawaii to the U.S. was the highlight of the today's gathering. Nice to see some new faces there, especially those from the continental United States. Imua Ke Aupuni Moi O Hawaii, o Pomai
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When I woke up this morning I had no idea that I was going to carry a 'distressed' Hawaiian Flag through out Waianae in a Xmas parade. Nor did I expect to have a resistance from my own grandchild and soon after an apology about the flag being upside down. It was a growing experience for all of us. One interesting experience as I walked I chanted La Ku'oko'a and I got a full group response from Micronesian children--they almost immediately chanted the exact words back... The second thing was the homeless people also too responded with their hearts and soul. It was very touching! As for the Na Kanaka's confusion, resistance and responded with Mele Kalikimaka.
I missed Dee Dee a lot today. We have the script and will reenact the play out here in Waianae. Love to all Kaohi