Nov. 28, 2022

Lā Kū‘oko‘a (Independence Day) is a Hawaiian national holiday that marks the date in 1843 when the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Hawai‘i was formally recognized by England and France through the signing of the Anglo-Franco Proclamation, and through a verbal acknowledgement with the United States as a result of the efforts of emissaries Timoteo Ha‘alilio, William Richards, and George Simpson. In this Kūkahekahe, we explore one way to enhance our celebration of this auspicious day!

Celebrating the national holidays of the Hawaiian Kingdom is one way to remember Hawaiian history and affirm pride in a lāhui Hawai‘i identity. Lā Ho‘iho‘i Ea (Restoration Day) on July 31 and Lā Kū‘oko‘a (Independence Day) on November 28 are two holidays which have inspired growing celebrations across the pae‘āina and around the world.

In a recent interview, 2022 Lā Ho‘iho‘i Ea honoree and community organizer Hinaleimoana Wong KSK ’90 shared that one way she would love for our Kamehameha ‘ohana to celebrate our national holidays is to learn and sing “E Ola Ke Ali‘i Ke Akua” and “He Mele Lāhui Hawai‘i.” In addition to Hawai‘i Pono‘ī, these two mele were national anthems of the Hawaiian Kingdom.

The British Anthem “God Save the King/Queen” served as an informal national anthem for the Kingdom of Hawai‘i for many years. However, in 1860 King Kamehameha IV, Alexander Liholiho, believed that the kingdom’s anthem should be in Hawaiian. He sponsored a contest seeking the best version of the anthem in ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i. Prince William Charles Lunalilo entered the contest. At just 25 years old, he was already considered a gifted poet and had been educated at the Royal School. He is said to have written his entry to the contest, “E Ola Ke Ali‘i Ke Akua” in only twenty minutes. Lunalilo’s mele was selected as the winner, and “E Ola Ke Ali‘i Ke Akua” became the national anthem for the Kingdom of Hawai‘i.

In 1866, Kamehameha V, Lot Kapuāiwa, sought a new national anthem for the Kingdom. Although “E Ola Ke Ali‘i Ke Akua” was popular, the king believed that the love Hawaiians had for their country could be expressed without using the British anthem. He made a request for a new anthem to Princess Lili‘uokalani, a gifted musician. She wrote “He Mele Lāhui Hawai‘i,” which was the kingdom’s national anthem until 1876, when King Kalākaua co-composed “Hawai‘i Pono‘ī” to be the national anthem of the Kingdom of Hawai‘i.

E ka ‘ohana Kamehameha, below are the lyrics to both of the former national anthems of the Hawaiian Kingdom.

E Ola Ke Ali‘i Ke Akua Na Lunalilo Ke Akua Mana Mau Ho‘omaika‘i, pōmaika‘i I ka mō‘ī Kou lima mana mau Mālama kia‘i mai Ko mākou nei mō‘ī E ola ē. Ka inoa kamaha‘o Lei nani o mākou E ola ē Kou ‘ēheu‘eheu uhi mai Pale nā ‘ino ē Kā mākou pule nō E ola ē. I mua ou mākou Ke ali‘i o nā Ali‘i E aloha mai E mau ke ea ē ‘O ke aupuni nei E ola mau mākou Me ka mō‘ī.

God Save the King Lunalilo Eternal, mighty God Bless us from your bright abode Our sovereign king. May your all powerful arm Ward from our sire all harm Let no vile foe alarm Long may he reign. Royal distinguished name Our beauteous diadem Long life be yours Thy wing spread over our land From every foe defend To you our prayers ascend Long live our king. Before Thee King of Kings Of Whom all nature sings Our prayer we bring Oh let our kingdom live Life, peace and union give Let all Thy care receive Bless Thou our king.

He Mele Lāhui Hawai‘i Na Lili‘u Ka Makua Mana loa, Maliu mai iā mākou, E hāliu aku nei, Me ka na‘au ha‘aha‘a; E mau ka maluhia, O nei pae ‘āina, Mai Hawai‘i a Ni‘ihau, Ma lalo o kou malu. Ho‘ōho: E mau ke Ea o ka ‘Āina, Ma kou pono mau, A ma kou mana nui, E ola, e ola ka Mō‘ī. E ka Haku mālama mai, I ko mākou nei Mō‘ī, E mau kona noho ‘ana, Maluna o ka Noho Ali‘i, Hā‘awi mai i ke aloha, Maloko o Kona na‘au; A ma kou ahonui, E ola, e ola ka Mō‘ī. Ma lalo o kou aloha nui, Na Li‘i o ke Aupuni, Me nā Maka‘āinana, Ka lehulehu nō a pau Kia‘i mai iā lākou Me ke aloha ahonui; E ola nō mākou, I kou mana mau.

Hawaiian national Anthem Lili‘u Almighty Father bend thine ear And listen to a nation’s prayer That lowly bows before thy throne And seeks thy fostering care Grant your peace throughout the land Over these sunny sea girt isles Keep the nation’s life, oh Lord, And on our sovereign smile Chorus: Grant your peace throughout the land Over these sunny isles Keep the nation’s life, oh Lord And on our sovereign smile. Guard him with your tender care Give him length of years to reign On the throne his fathers won Bless the nation once again Give the king your loving grace And with wisdom from on high Prosperous lead his people on As beneath your watchful eye Grant your peace throughout the land Bless O Lord our country’s chiefs Grant them wisdom so to live That our people may be saved And to You the glory give Watch over us day by day King and people with your love For our hope is all in You Bless us, You who reign aboveGrant your peace throughout the land

Left: King William Charles Lunalilo in military uniform prior to 1874, photo courtesy of Hawaiʻi State Archives. Right: Queen Liliʻuokalani in 1865, one year before she wrote “He Mele Lāhui Hawaiʻi.” Photo Courtesy of Hawaiʻi State Archives.

Learn about Hawaiian ‘āina, ‘ōlelo, and culture and history by visiting websites like kanaeokana.net. Kanaeokana includes more than 80 Hawaiian language, culture, and ʻāina-based organizations and schools (including Kamehameha Schools), collaborating to develop and strengthen the lāhui by building a Native Hawaiian education system built on a strong ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i and ‘ike Hawai‘i foundation.