The Pilina Between HawaiÊ»i and Great Britain: Ka Hae HawaiÊ»i & LÄ HoÊ»ihoÊ»i Ea
When we work with haumÄna from the continent, we frequently get asked about the union jack that is represented on the hae HawaiÊ»i (Hawaiian flag). The hae HawaiÊ»i historically ties into tomorrowâs national holiday LÄ HoÊ»ihoÊ»i Ea (Hawaiian Sovereignty Day), which commemorates yearly on July 31, the restoration of HawaiÊ»i as a sovereign nation, from whom it was wrongfully occupied by the rogue actions of British Admiral George Paulet. Before we get into that moÊ»olelo, letâs take a look at the historical pilina or relationship between the HawaiÊ»i and Great Britain.
In 1778, British navigator, and Captain of the Royal Navy, James Cook, sailed upon the islands, making contact to Hawaiʻi, for the first time by any western foreigner. Eventually landing on the shores of Kealakekua Bay on moku O Keawe or Hawaiʻi island - during the reign of King Kalaniopuʻu, who was chief of Hawaiʻi island and uncle to Paiea (Kamehameha I). Cook arrived during the Makahiki season, a peaceful time dedicated to the god Lono, and therefore; it is said that Cook was regarded as a God, and welcomed with open arms and gifts. Perhaps Cook took advantage of the special treatment he was receiving from the generous hospitality of the native Hawaiians.
After a month's stay, it was time for Cook and his men to return to the seas and continue their voyage. They got back on their ship known as the Resolution and left. Supposedly one week into the voyage, they turned back to Kealakekua, due to their shipâs foremast being damaged from extreme weather and ocean conditions. However, their return was not so welcomed this time around.
It was now no longer the season of Makahiki, and they were in the time of KĆ«, the war god. Tensions rose between the Europeans and the Hawaiians. As the conflict elevated, quarrels and fights broke out. Supposedly Cook tried to capture and hold King KalaniopuÊ»u hostage, but before he could do so, he was surrounded by crowds of kÄnaka and killed there on the shores of Kealakekua Bay on February 14, 1779. That pilina turned sour, and the exposure and contact to western people brought diseases like gonorrhea and syphilis upon the Hawaiian people.
However, later down the road, relations between the British improved with the introduction of another explorer by the name of George Vancouver. This was during the era of Kamehameha I, and we have come to know that our mĆʻī had a strong pilina with Captain George Vancouver, who was also a British officer of the Royal Navy. This pilina developed and soon King Kamehameha looked upon Great Britain as a trusted friend and ally.
Vancouver is well known for gifting cattle to Kamehameha and introducing the first livestock to the islands. In 1794 on VancouverÊ»s final voyage to HawaiÊ»i, he gifted Kamehameha the Red Ensign, a British flag that contains the union jack. Kamehameha cherished this gift and would fly it above his hale and sometimes take it into battle. After unifying the islands, Kamehameha decides to commission the hae hawaiÊ»i to be created to represent Ko HawaiÊ»i Pae Ê»Äina or the Hawaiian islands. George Beckley and Alexander Adams advised him in creating the unique hae HawaiÊ»i.
The first documentation of the flag was recorded in 1816 by Russian Captain being flown in Honolulu Harbor, with the union jack and red, white, and blue stripes. Kamehameha had an endearment for Great Britain as an ally and protector. Ultimately, the hae was a symbol of unification and protection. Perhaps strategically, Kamehameha had the union jack placed on the flag to represent the pilina with Great Britain, a powerful country, with the strongest Naval force at the time. Kamehameha was a great King, warrior, diplomat, and strategist. After his death, Kamehamehaâs sons continued this pilina with Great Britain.
Later in the lineage, Kamehameha III, Kauikeaouli, and three emissaries strived to get HawaiÊ»i recognized as a sovereign nation. The emissaries traveled to great lengths for this mission and in 1842 America signed on and recognized HawaiÊ»i as a sovereign nation. While the men were away, the Paulet Affair took place, which ultimately led to Kauikeaouliâs surrender to Great Britain.
There was a land dispute between Richard Charlton and the Hawaiian Government. Admiral Thomas heard the news of this and sent Lord George Paulet to see things over. Kauikeaouli turned down the commands of Paulet until Paulet threatened him with violence and military force.
From February to July 1843, HawaiÊ»i was wrongfully occupied by Great Britain. During these troubling times, Paulet had all of the hae HawaiÊ»i destroyed, causing despair for the kÄnaka maoli, who were left uncertain regarding the status of the mĆʻī (monarchy).
Mixed messages were sent back to Admiral Thomas, so he decided to go to Hawaiʻi to investigate for himself. The wrongful actions against the Hawaiian Kingdom were finally resolved when Admiral Thomas arrived in Hawaiʻi and restored the ea, the sovereign authority to King Kamehameha III (Kauikeaouli).
A special ceremony took place at what is known today as Thomas Square, Honolulu on July 31, 1843. The British flag was lowered and the hae HawaiÊ»i was raised once again. This day is known as LÄ HoÊ»ihoÊ»i Ea, the day HawaiÊ»is sovereignty was restored. Later King Kauikeaouli shares with the lÄhui, this famous motto âUa mau ke ea o ka Ê»Äina i ka ponoâ - The land is perpetuated in righteousness. HawaiÊ»i was restored through the right actions of Admiral Thomas and monarchy Queen Victoria.
This holiday has been buried since the time of the overthrow in 1893 when Queen LiliÊ»uokalani was removed from the throne. No one heard of this holiday for a long time, but in more recent years, it has been revived, restored, and remembered. Today it is celebrated across the pae Ê»Äina and afar, as a day when the hae HawaiÊ»i is risen to symbolize that the lÄhui is still ever-present. LÄ HoÊ»ihoÊ»i Ea represents a very significant time in HawaiÊ»iâs history and reminds us to always do the pono thing and that justice can prevail.
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