Pōkā Laenui & Abel Simeona Lui Honored
Koani Foundation Director Leon Siu Presents The Awards For Pōkā Laenui (r) & Abel Simeona Lui. Accepting For Abel Simeona Lui is His Brother, Bernard Lui (l).
The Koani Foundation has given its twelfth annual Hawaiian Kingdom Patriot Awards honoring two significant Hawaiian Kingdom patriots yesterday, Sunday, July 28th at Thomas Square Park in Honolulu.
The awards presentation took place at Thomas Square as part of a daylong observance of Lā Ho`iho`i Ea, Hawaiian Sovereignty Restoration Day. The 2024 honorees are Pōkā Laenui and the late Abel Simeona Lui.
Pōkā Laenui is a long time Hawaiian rights activist, educator and visionary. He is honored for his years as a leader in advocating for a free and independent Hawai`i. Pōkā is awarded the 2024 Hawaiian Kingdom Living Patriot Award.
The late Abel Simeona Lui is honored in recognition of a lifetime of exceptional sacrifice and dedication in advocating and living aloha `āina. He is honored with the the 2024 posthumous Hawaiian Kingdom Patriot Award.
“We recognize Pōkā for his lifetime of exceptional dedication as an advocate, visionary, educator and activist for Hawai`iʻs independence. His profound aloha for our `āina and our lāhui continues to inspire countless others to continue to work for a free Hawai`i,” states Koani Foundation director `Ehu Kekahu Cardwell.
“Abel Lui was a courageous protector, educator and leader in advocating and living aloha `āina. His aloha for both Hawai`iʻs `āina and itʻs people continues to inspire many others to mālama or take care of our precious homeland today as well as in the years to come,” remarked Koani Foundation director Leon Siu.
Hawaiian Sovereignty Restoration Day marks July 31,1843 when British Admiral Richard Thomas ordered the Union Jack lowered and the Hawaiian Kingdom flag hoisted above Honolulu, ending five months of British occupation and restoring the sovereignty of the Hawaiian Kingdom government to legitimate power.
