Lā Kūʻokoʻa concert brings generations together

Dec. 10, 2024

Hawaiian sovereignty took center stage at Kamehameha Schools as Lā Kūʻokoʻa was celebrated with a vibrant evening of mele, hula and the enduring spirit of aloha ʻāina. Held at the Kaʻiwakīloumoku Pacific Indigenous Institute, this first-of-its-kind concert brought together an audience of all ages to honor Hawaiʻi’s independence and reflect on the perpetual strength of our lāhui.

Observed annually on November 28, Lā Kūʻokoʻa commemorates the Anglo-Franco Proclamation of 1843, when England and France formally recognized the Hawaiian Kingdom’s sovereignty. Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award-winning musician Dr. Jon Osorio emphasized the importance of this moment before serenading the crowd of over 100.

Concertgoers happily sang along to some of Dr. Jon Osorio’s most-loved hits, including “Hawaiian Eyes.”

“Lā Kūʻokoʻa was an important holiday because it meant that the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi could be treated with equality by other countries in the world, including the Great Powers,” Osorio said. “But of course, we know that that’s not what happened.”

Hae Hawaiʻi draped the venue alongside lush greenery and striking posters championing mōʻī of the past. Co-hosts Manu Boyd and Lāiana Kanoa-Wong guided the evening, weaving cultural insights and chanting “Ea!” throughout the program.

The Ambassadors of Aloha ʻĀina – a Kapālama student delegation that earlier this year shared Hawaiian culture abroad in Scotland and Great Britain – offered a hula that underscored the global reach of Hawaiian culture. Kanaeokana staff engaged the crowd by screen printing ‘āina-inspired shirt designs, while food booths served up tasty bentos and lemonade to fuel the festivities.

The Ambassadors of Aloha ʻĀina spoke with guests about their travels abroad while also quizzing them on important Hawaiian patriots.

Kaʻikena Scanlan & These Guys electrified the crowd with a high-energy set that had students swarming the stage, their youthful energy palpable. A kumu and mahiʻai from Hawaiʻi Island, Scanlan carefully curated their song list for the night.

“We sing mele Hawaiʻi for this crowd because these are things our youth and community care about,” Scanlan said. “We are a voice for them through our music.”

For Osorio, mele has long been a tool of cultural survival and resistance, connecting generations of Hawaiians during times of hardship.

Kaʻikena Scanlan & These Guys sang mele aloha ʻāina that invigorated the crowd.

“We celebrate with mele because it was mele that continued our people through that dark period of the Territory when we were not allowed to speak our language, when we didn’t control our own legislatures, and when we had no control over our own laws and lands,” Osorio said. “We continued to sing about ourselves, and we still do that today.”

As the celebration of Lā Kūʻokoʻa concluded, the spirit of strength and pride bonded the crowd. By hosting events like these, Kamehameha Schools and the Kaʻiwakīloumoku Pacific Indigenous Institute create opportunities for communities to honor, learn and engage with the legacy of our kūpuna. The evening served as a reflection on our history and an inspiration for future generations to continue advocating for Hawaiʻi and our lāhui.