Student-contributed stories connect learning to lived experience, as told by Ke Kula ʻo Kamehameha haumāna. This piece highlights participation in the ʻOnipaʻa Peace March 2026.

“I kū a huki, i kū mākou, i kū a mau, a mau kaiaulu , e huki e kūlia!” 
A servant queen, the last monarch, found troops in heavy, foreign uniforms outside her home. In the moment of distress, the aliʻi steps forward with compassion, surrendering her power for the love she felt for her people.

“Now, to avoid any collision of armed forces, and perhaps the loss of life, I do, under this protest and impelled by said force, yield my authority until such time as the Government of the United States shall, upon the facts being presented to it, undo the action of its representative, and reinstate me in the authority which I claim as the constitutional sovereign of the Hawaiian Islands.”

It was on this day, 133 years ago, that this momentous moment became a revolutionary movement.

On January 16th, 2026, haumāna from Kamehameha Schools Kula Haʻahaʻa, Waena, and Kiʻekiʻe gathered as a lāhui within the ʻOnipaʻa Peace March. Beyond the chaos of the concrete jungle, roaring traffic, and the media, the people of Hawaiʻi filled the modern environment with the sounds of how Hawaiʻi once was and how we are striving to make it be.

Chants, songs, and speech were projected in our native tongue while hundreds of hae Hawaiʻi freely waved above the heads of their citizens. Reds and blues, the hues of our native flag, filled the path for miles, while vast integrations of purple honored our beloved queen, Lydia Liliʻu Loloku Walania Wewehi Kamakaʻeha. Her values of aloha, pono, and ʻonipaʻa were expressed in the hearts of every Hawaiian, from the opening kāhea to the final oli. As a haumāna who partook in the march firsthand, it was the most perfect day to honor the legacy our mōʻī left us to perpetuate. 

The morning of the march, hoʻokupu were given from each group to signify the gratitude for our aliʻi. The hands of the Kamehameha Hawaiian Ensemble delicately placed a kukui kīpuʻu style lei upon the crypt to symbolize “the light and positivity that our lāhui continues to seek as we reclaim what was lost.” The melodious strings of ‘ukulele were then played in harmony with the proud voices that brought life to the lyrics of “Kaulana Nā Pua,” a mele created during the events of the overthrow. 

“It was really special being able to celebrate our lāhui and honor our aliʻi on such an important day,” concluded KS Kapālama junior Kamakoa Kaluhiwa.
 

Our kula further paid its respects to Liliʻuokalani’s hānai kaikuaʻana and our beloved founder, Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop. A song composed by her sister, “Pauahi ʻO Kalani,” was presented in front of her ʻohana’s crypt, followed by traditional hula by the Kamehameha wāhine. It brought appreciation for Pauahi and was a “life-changing” moment for many.

Shelby Bagood, mea hula for Kamehameha Schools Ensemble, expressed, “This experience and opportunity to dance for Pauahi was both liberating and inspiring. I am beyond blessed and thankful to be part of this movement.”  

Honoring our queen and princess grounded our naʻau, bringing thoughts of mindfulness and expressing the privilege we have as kānaka to make our aliʻi proud.

It was two miles of carrying posters, banners, and flags from the entrance of Mauna ʻAla to the front gates of ʻIolani Palace, but not a single person was caught up in the length of the journey. Instead, each individual had their hearts and minds set upon the purpose of the movement.

Our participation recognizes the resistance of our queen, the fight of our people, and the pride of being Hawaiian.

“The feeling of chanting as one group walking down to ʻIolani as one leo was definitely life-changing. Not only because it was powerful, but because it was amazing having people lift my leo as well,” explained sophomore Kameleonālani Villaro.

Once at the intricate gates of the palace, our kula asked for permission in the form of oli, which was welcomed by a komo from Kumu Hinaleimoana Kwai Kong Wong-Kalu. The final offering we gave was our leo. Each grade level, student, and staff member came together in front of the entrance steps and sang our national anthem, “Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī”, in unison. 

With the issues that have been brought up recently and have been ongoing for many years, the ʻOnipaʻa Peace March was a significant moment of reflection and action towards who we are as a people. Mai poina, we will never forget this day. Not for the reminder of our native rule ending but because it never changed our mōʻī and kingdom that continues to forever reign in our hearts.

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