July 31 is a national holiday known as Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea (Sovereignty Restoration Day). King Kamehameha III established this holiday in a days-long celebration following the rightful return of sovereign government to Hawaiʻi by the United Kingdom, after an illegal seizure by one of their representatives. He proclaimed, “Ua mau ke ea o ka ʻāina i ka pono”–the ea (sovereignty, life, breath) of our land is perpetuated through justice. Hawaiians continue to breathe life into our sovereignty, and one way we do this is to celebrate ka Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea. After decades of suppression, the celebrations were revived in 1985 by Uncle Kekuni Blaisdell and other kānaka aloha ʻāina as a way to give voice to Hawaiian independence and to issues surrounding the return and demilitarization of Hawaiian lands.

Alongside the HŌʻEA Kānaka Maoli Film showcase, we are proud to bring our lāhui another amazing night of Hawaiian films by Hawaiian film makers. This evening will feature three new projects, including the award winning film Kapaemahu by director Kumu Hina Wong, a special showing of the short film by award winning kanaka film maker ʻĀina Paikai and Kaliko Maii about the legendary aloha ʻāina, George Helm, entitled Hawaiian Soul, and finally a short documentary by award winning filmmaker Ciara Lacey called This is How We Rise, which features wahine poet, activist, and academic, Heoli Osorio.