Hawaiian Independence Day

A  L  O  H  A !

 click on these photos

"When that memory leaves,

then we lose the identity

of who we are."

 Mahealani Asing

" The whole moon and

the entire sky

are reflected
 in one dewdrop

on the grass. "

Dogen

" I believe above all 

that I wanted to build

the palace of my memory,

because my memory  

is my only homeland. "

 
Anselm Kiefer

 

 

 

 

 

 Today is the 168th anniversary

of La Kuokoa,

Hawaiian Independence Day 

Nov. 28, 1843.

  La Kuokoa, was observed as a Hawaii holiday from 1844 to 1895,

when the U.S. government replaced it with Thanksgiving. 

On this day we recall Timoteo Haalilio,

Kingdom of Hawaii diplomat 

who worked tirelessly 

to achieve  the Kingdom's

  independence in 1843.

On Nov. 28, 1843,  Haalilio received signatures

from both the French 

and the British governments

declaring Hawaii a sovereign nation.

Our Pacific archipelago was the first

non-European nation 

to be so recognized a sovereign state.

( according to contemporary Hawaiian Nationalists

HERE )

  

Haalilio is a national hero that almost no one

but scholars or activists know about..

He was urgently dispatched

by King Kamehameha III in 1842

to the United States, and on to Europe,

to negotiate those treaties.

Such agreements were extremely precious

in the frankly imperial world politic of that time.

Haalilio traversed the United States
(almost unimaginably vast to an island guy)
to meet with President John Tyler.
The US President agreed
with the brown skinned diplomat
from a tropical island group,
endorsing Hawaii's independence.  


Haalilio's Honolulu traveling companion was one
William Richards.

 According to the Encyclopædia Britannica:

"William Richards,  (born Aug. 22, 1793, Plainfield, Mass., U.S.—

died Nov. 7, 1847, Hawaiian Islands),

 American missionary

who helped to promote a liberal constitutional monarchy 

in the Hawaiian Islands. "

A few years back, Kekuni Blaisdell, MD shared with a local reporter
Richards' journal description of Haalilio's death by tuberculosis on Dec. 3, 1844, 
during the final leg of their voyage home to Hawaii.

  The Hawaiian diplomat was but 36 years old.



Kapua Keliikoa-Kamai, who is part Hawaiian, told the Honolulu Star Bulletin that it was
"outrageous" that she never learned about Hawaiian Independence Day,
"It's something so significant to learn about after only 45 years."

I would have to say that I agree. 

 

As a patriotic American

I also hold a special place

in my heart
for the unextinguished sovereignty 

in the hearts

of the the Hawaiian people

and for their culture

which has hosted,

schooled,

and healed

my heart.

As a guest, and immigrant 

I know that I owe my hearth, community, identity,

and lifestyle

to the hospitality of my adopted island home

and her indigenous people.

Like Solomon,

I hope no one will cut

the political HAWAII in two.

 

Like Jesus advises,

I proudly render unto my Nation her due,

and unto the heartfelt Kingdom Of Hawaii

an altogether different level of fealty and love.

 

Yes, 

the Hawaiian People

should have a land base;

a place in their own islands,

and the means

to perpetuate their precious

ways & rights.

I'm a happy duel citizen, 

of Hawaii & USA;

of this world, and the next.

Are YOU patriotic 

about YOUR local place/people/culture-

or

are you more a citizen of the 

nation? The world?

Join us in comments

& Thank YOU for visiting- 

                                                                                                warmly, cloudia