Did you know that every year on July 31, the state of Hawai‘i celebrates Hawai‘i Flag Day, otherwise known as Ka Hae Hawai‘i?
A day to contemplate the meaning and the history of the flag, Hawai‘i Flag Day came about in 1990, proclaimed by then-governor of the state of Hawai‘i, John D. Waihee III, in response to an effort by the park staff at Pu‘kohola Heiau National Historic Site on the Big Island. Because of its significant history prior to the establishment of the Hawaiian Kingdom, the park is only one of three sites in the state of Hawai‘i allowed to fly the Hawaiian flag independent of any other national banner. (The other two sites are on O‘ahu: ‘Iolani Palace and Mauna Ala Royal Mausoleum).
Replete in red, white and blue, the flag was originally commissioned by King Kamehameha I in 1816. The king’s close ties to Great Britain are reflected in the design, which features elements of the Union Jack as well as the Kingdom of Hawai‘i. The eight horizontal stripes represent the eight major islands in the chain. Hawai‘i lost its independence after the overthrow in 1893, but the flag continued as the official flag through the territorial days and into statehood, beginning in 1959.
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| Hawaiian monarchy quilt honors the flag. |
For Hawaiians, the flag is a distinguished symbol of the time when ali‘i in the Hawaiian Kingdom could govern with absolute sovereignty. During the overthrow of the monarchy, Hawaiians incorporated the flag into quilts and wall hangings to pledge their allegiance to a sovereign nation.
Visitors to the Big Island will enjoy a romantic, tropical retreat at Holualoa Inn. Our Hawai‘i bed and breakfast is situated in the heart of Kona Coffee Country on a lush, 30-acre coffee estate overlooking the Kona Coast. We welcome you to spend your vacation in paradise with us.
Happy Hawai‘i Flag Day!
Innkeeper Holualoa Inn
