What is Lā Kū‘oko‘a?
November 28 is a national holiday known as Lā Kū‘oko‘a (Hawaiian Independence Day). The Anglo-Franco Proclamation was signed on that day in 1843 by Britain and France, recognizing the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi. The kingdom had been having trouble with foreign powers overstepping their bounds, so the mōʻī Kauikeaouli sent Timoteo Haʻalilio and his assistant William Richards on a diplomatic mission to secure recognition.
It was a difficult journey, as they sailed across the Pacific, traveled overland across Mexico, up to Washington, D.C. (where Haʻalilio also faced explicit racism), and then across the Atlantic to Europe. They successfully secured recognition from Britain and France, two of the great powers of the time, but Haʻalilio passed away off the coast of New York before he was able to return home.
What is the significance?
Lā Kūʻokoʻa was one of the major kingdom holidays celebrated, along with Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea, for five decades. Hawaiian and non-Hawaiian citizens of the kingdom alike would celebrate with visits to the palace, feasts, speeches, mele, horse and velocipede races, and more. After the overthrow, the Republic of Hawaiʻi declared Thanksgiving an official holiday in the hopes that it would overshadow Lā Kūʻokoʻa, and it worked as many residents of Hawaiʻi have never celebrated Lā Kūʻokoʻa. In recent decades, however, schools and community organizations have been working to ensure that that changes.
Lā Kū‘oko‘a is not just a historical date — it’s a living symbol of Hawaiian resilience, international recognition, and the ongoing pursuit of justice and sovereignty. Here are 5 ways we can kūoko‘a everyday!
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Ea is a journey, state of being, and destination. What are some steps we can take as we holomua?
Find Lā Kū‘oko‘a Events in your community, raise our beloved Hae Hawaiʻi, listen to Ea-filled music, and explore the resources below to learn more.
