Magnum Mania!

On this day in 1810, he established the kingdom of Hawai'i, through the unification of the Hawaiian islands! Aloha

Interesting piece of trivia - thanks!

Kamehameha I - circa. 1758 – May 8, 1819, also known as Kamehameha the Great, unified the Hawaiian Islands and formally established the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi in 1810. By developing alliances with the major Pacific colonial powers, Kamehameha preserved Hawaiʻi's independence under his rule. It was a sovereign nation. Hawai'i has seen many attempts at takeover and other countries trying to lay claim to Hawai'i for their own thru the years. During Kamehameha's reign He attempted to rule the kingdom using the ancient system of kapu, but it became very difficult with the influx of foreigners. The beginning of the end was clearly in sight for the Hawaiian culture. Even though with the swarm of missionaries, it seemed apparent ali'i and commoners fairly readily converted to christianity, especially as the kapu system was seemingly abolished, inwardly kanaka ma'oli held fast to their ancient ways, and philosophy, while externally appearing as to be good little christians.

Following the restoration of the Hawaiian Sovereign Kingdom after a short-lived British takeover of the Hawaiian islands, on July 31, 1843, at a ceremony held at the Kawaiahao Church, King Kamehameha III spoke the words, "Ua Mau Ke Ea O Ka Aina I Ka Pono"; The sovereignty of the land is preserved in Justice."

Linda Lingle, a local politician here for a time, following the foreigner's tradition of appropriating things Hawaiian and using it for one's own ends, uses these revered words in her campaign booklet, trivializes them, claiming they actually mean "... trust and integrity is lacking in Hawaii, so let's get rid of the corrupt politicians, and who better than me to take their place?"

The booklet claims the motto means to restore trust in American government, but of course it was a commemoration and celebration of the restoration of the Hawaiian Sovereign "Government."

How ironic; The State Motto commemorating a moment of reinforcing and celebrating the independence and sovereignty of the Hawaiian Kingdom, now it's the "state" (of America) motto, and now, a politician wallowing in the very muck of the kind of government and system Kamehameha tried to protect the islands from, is appropriating his words for her own ends.

This kind of thing is easily done with impunity, as America was the final conquerer of the islands, first in 1898 when, despite the opposition of a majority of Native Hawaiians the republic was annexed to the U.S. of A.. Cut to more modern times in 1959 Hawaii became the 50th state of America. (The fact imperialism is universal and no country is immune, has no placating effect for locals, it is irrelevant) Through the years, plantation owners, sugar barons, businessmen, developers and their ilk have shifted and shunted the kanaka ma'oli from their homes, their farms, their land and have taken the islands. Many natives find it no longer feasible to live in their own land they and their 'ohana and kupuna have known for decades. King Kamehameha is rolling in his undisclosed resting place...
The event of King Kamehameha day is observed by many locals as a reminder to 'Onipa'a. 'Imua! Stand fast, hold your ground, never waver, fight for what is pono... and it is a harkening to the old days and a reinforcement of the principles of Sovereignty.
What we have today among many here, is a resurgence of the Hawaiian culture. Hawaiians are grappling with their role in the world and are reaching back to their roots to redefine their identity. King Kamehameha day may be a day of partying, a day off from work, of parades, but it is a somber time for many here. The parades are about the only thing left that displays a re-enactment of the royal court. I love a parade, as they say but it is with a tear in my eye to witness though I am as much a partyer as the next guy. Enjoy our holiday but remember the history.

Great post Braddah Kimo. I wish the forum had a like button. If I ever get out there I want to see the real Hawaii!

Mahalo! And we would be happy to show it to ya!