Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea at Thomas Square

In partnership with Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea organizers, Puʻuhonua Society activates the makai side of Thomas Square for the annual celebration commemorating the restoration of Hawaiian sovereignty in 1843. This grassroots tradition was reestablished by Dr. Kekuni Blaisdell in 1985 and has been sustained by community organizers for nearly four decades.

Since 2024, Puʻuhonua Society has significantly expanded the celebration's capacity by bringing together cultural practitioners and artists to create hands-on workshop spaces, cultural demonstrations, and artistic installations that complement the main stage programming.

In 2025, Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea drew 5,000 attendees (85% Native Hawaiian) who engaged with over 30 artist groups and 138 cultural practitioners across hands-on activities including:

• Kapa pounding

• Lauhala weaving

• Traditional carving

• Lei-making

• Waʻa building demonstrations

• Cultural games

• Contemporary art installations

Building on two years of community feedback and successful collaboration, our 2026 programming will expand in direct response to demonstrated needs, including proactive allocation of larger spaces for high-demand workshops and continued pairing of master practitioners with emerging artists.

This partnership model transforms underutilized park space into vibrant learning environments where families can move fluidly between main stage performances and intimate workshops, creating multiple pathways to honor Hawaiian sovereignty through art, practice, moʻolelo, and intergenerational learning. This ensures that this sacred day is both remembered and actively lived by current and future generations.