KE AUPUNI UPDATE - NOVEMBER 2025
Recognized as a Sovereign State
In 2023, the State of Hawaii passed a law that officially designates November 28th as Lā Kūʻokoʻa (Hawaiian Independence Day) to honor the 1843 diplomatic recognition of the Hawaiian Kingdom’s independence by Great Britain and France. The law designates this as a day of observance. The path to making it an official state holiday with paid time off, is being pursued. The State of Hawaii also observes Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea (Sovereignty Restoration Day).
This is significant, not because we need the State’s acknowledgement, but because it shows how far we have come in getting a more truthful historical narrative accepted, even by the offending puppet government called “The State of Hawaii”. By officially acknowledging these two specific events, the State of Hawaii acknowledges the basis for the legal international status of the Hawaiian Kingdom.
In a democratic society, laws are made reflecting and supporting the views and standards of the people of that community. The State of Hawaii’s recognition of these two most important Hawaiian Kingdom holidays is an indication of a big shift in public perception; that these are important events to memorialize.
People often think of these two historic diplomatic events of 1843, Lā Kūʻokoʻa and Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea, as the beginning of Hawaii’s sovereignty, but they are not. These Islands that are now called the Hawaiian Islands have been sovereign since time immemorial. When Captain James Cook made contact in 1778, he did not claim Hawaii for Britain. Nor did his successor, Captain George Vancouver. Coming from the most avid colonizer in history, refraining from colonizing Hawaii was in itself was a pro-active form of recognition of Hawaii’s sovereignty.
Also, Hawaii did not become sovereign just because in the 19th century a couple of European countries said so. No, Hawaii was always sovereign. It’s just that in 1843 the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of France, two of the most powerful nations on the planet at that time, formally expressed their respect for the inherent sovereignty of the Kingdom of the Hawaiian Islands.
Technically, Britain and France were not the first to do so. Though it was never ratified by the US Senate, the 1826 Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation with the United States was Hawaii’s first treaty with a foreign power constituting a formal diplomatic recognition of Hawaiian Kingdom’s sovereignty.
The brief seizure of power in the Paulet Affair of 1843 did not affect Hawaii’s sovereignty. Likewise, the now 132-year-long ordeal of coup d’etat, fake Republic, fake annexation and fake statehood, regarded as a prolonged illegal occupation by the United States, could not, did not and has not extinguished Hawaii’s sovereignty.
When we say, Hawaii is a sovereign, independent state in continuity, we mean from waaay back; before the emergence of the European nations. And certainly, before the formation of the United States of America, which next year will celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the start of its rebellion against England and its greedy, bloody land grab “from sea to shining sea”… and much, much further.
The State of Hawaii’s recent acknowledgement of the two Hawaiian Kingdom holidays is evidence of how the conversation of Hawaii’s future as an independent nation is permeating through all levels of Hawaii society…
From the streets and taro patches to the Bishop Street and the halls of government, the nation is on the rise!
Aloha ʻĀina —
“Love of country is deep-seated in the breast of every Hawaiian, whatever his station.” — Queen Liliʻuokalani
Ua mau ke ea o ka ʻāina i ka pono.
The sovereignty of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.
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For the latest news and developments about our progress at the United Nations in both New York and Geneva, tune in to Free Hawaii News at 7 PM, the first Friday of each month on ʻŌlelo Television, Channel 53.
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Malama Pono,
Leon Siu
Hawaiian National
