MEDIA RELEASE

Four national parks on Hawaii Island will simultaneously celebrate the first national holiday in Hawaii, La hoihoi ea, or Hawaiian Flag Day, on Thursday, July 31. The event is free, but entrance fees apply at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park & Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park.

Hawaii celebrated its first national holiday on July 31, 1843, when the Kingdom of Hawaii was restored by Great Britain. Kamehameha III, Kauikeaouli, proclaimed, “Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono,” the life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness. That famous proclamation is perpetuated today as the state motto.

Join the unified celebration of La hoihoi ea on Thursday, July 31, at Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site, Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park from 9 a.m. to noon. The ceremony at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park will be from 10 a.m. to noon.

On July 26, 1990 then-Governor John Waihee signed a proclamation making every July 31 Hawaiian Flag Day, and urged Hawaii citizens ‘to observe due respect for the flag and the proud tradition for which it stands.’

The Hawaiian Flag Day ceremony schedule at the Hawaii Island national parks is as follows:

9 a.m. Learn to make your own pu ohe (bamboo trumpet) at the West Hawaii parks.

10 a.m. Participate in presentations to learn the history of La hoihoi ea, Hawaii Ponoi, “Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono, and ‘aha aina, the first luau.

Noon Honor the 1816 flag of Kamehameha I.