November 28th is the most important national holiday in the Hawaiian Kingdom. It is the day Great Britain and France formally recognized the Hawaiian Islands as an “independent state” in 1843, and has since been celebrated as “Independence Day,” which in the Hawaiian language is “La Ku‘oko‘a.” Here follows the story of this momentous event from the Hawaiian Kingdom Board of Education history textbook titled “A Brief History of the Hawaiian People” published in 1891.
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The First Embassy to Foreign Powers—In February, 1842, Sir George Simpson and Dr. McLaughlin, governors in the service of the Hudson Bay Company, arrived at Honolulu on business, and became interested in the native people and their government. After a candid examination of the controversies existing between their own countrymen and the Hawaiian Government, they became convinced that the latter had been unjustly accused. Sir George offered to loan the government ten thousand pounds in cash, and advised the king to send commissioners to the United States and Europe with full power to negotiate new treaties, and to obtain a guarantee of the independence of the kingdom.
Accordingly Sir George Simpson, Haalilio, the king’s secretary, and Mr. Richards were appointed joint ministers-plenipotentiary to the three powers on the 8th of April, 1842.
Mr. Richards also received full power of attorney for the king. Sir George left for Alaska, whence he traveled through Siberia, arriving in England in November. Messrs. Richards and Haalilio sailed July 8th, 1842, in a chartered schooner for Mazatlan, on their way to the United States*
*Their business was kept a profound secret at the time.
Proceedings of the British Consul—As soon as these facts became known, Mr. Charlton followed the embassy in order to defeat its object. He left suddenly on September 26th, 1842, for London via Mexico, sending back a threatening letter to the king, in which he informed him that he had appointed Mr. Alexander Simpson as acting-consul of Great Britain. As this individual, who was a relative of Sir George, was an avowed advocate of the annexation of the islands to Great Britain, and had insulted and threatened the governor of Oahu, the king declined to recognize him as British consul. Meanwhile Mr. Charlton laid his grievances before Lord George Paulet commanding the British frigate “Carysfort,” at Mazatlan, Mexico. Mr. Simpson also sent dispatches to the coast in November, representing that the property and persons of his countrymen were in danger, which introduced Rear-Admiral Thomas to order the “Carysfort” to Honolulu to inquire into the matter.
Recognition by the United States—Messres. Richards and Haalilio arrived in Washington early in December, and had several interviews with Daniel Webster, the Secretary of State, from whom they received an official letter December 19th, 1842, which recognized the independence of the Hawaiian Kingdom, and declared, “as the sense of the government of the United States, that the government of the Sandwich Islands ought to be respected; that no power ought to take possession of the islands, either as a conquest or for the purpose of the colonization; and that no power ought to seek for any undue control over the existing government, or any exclusive privileges or preferences in matters of commerce.” *
*The same sentiments were expressed in President Tyler’s message to Congress of December 30th, and in the Report of the Committee on Foreign Relations, written by John Quincy Adams.
Success of the Embassy in Europe—The king’s envoys proceeded to London, where they had been preceded by the Sir George Simpson, and had an interview with the Earl of Aberdeen, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, on the 22d of February, 1843.
Lord Aberdeen at first declined to receive them as ministers from an independent state, or to negotiate a treaty, alleging that the king did not govern, but that he was “exclusively under the influence of Americans to the detriment of British interests,” and would not admit that the government of the United States had yet fully recognized the independence of the islands.
Sir George and Mr. Richards did not, however, lose heart, but went on to Brussels March 8th, by a previous arrangement made with Mr. Brinsmade. While there, they had an interview with Leopold I., king of the Belgians, who received them with great courtesy, and promised to use his influence to obtain the recognition of Hawaiian independence. This influence was great, both from his eminent personal qualities and from his close relationship to the royal families of England and France.
Encouraged by this pledge, the envoys proceeded to Paris, where, on the 17th, M. Guizot, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, received them in the kindest manner, and at once engaged, in behalf of France, to recognize the independence of the islands. He made the same statement to Lord Cowley, the British ambassador, on the 19th, and thus cleared the way for the embassy in England.
They immediately returned to London, where Sir George had a long interview with Lord Aberdeen on the 25th, in which he explained the actual state of affairs at the islands, and received an assurance that Mr. Charlton would be removed. On the 1st of April, 1843, the Earl of Aberdeen formally replied to the king’s commissioners, declaring that “Her Majesty’s Government are willing and have determined to recognize the independence of the Sandwich Islands under their present sovereign,” but insisting on the perfect equality of all foreigners in the islands before the law, and adding that grave complaints had been received from British subjects of undue rigor exercised toward them, and improper partiality toward others in the administration of justice. Sir George Simpson left for Canada April 3d, 1843.
Recognition of the Independence of the Islands—Lord Aberdeen, on the 13th of June, assured the Hawaiian envoys that “Her Majesty’s government had no intention to retain possession of the Sandwich Islands,” and a similar declaration was made to the governments of France and the United States.
At length, on the 28th of November, 1843, the two governments of France and England united in a joint declaration to the effect that “Her Majesty, the queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and His Majesty, the king of the French, taking into consideration the existence in the Sandwich Islands of a government capable of providing for the regularity of its relations with foreign nations have thought it right to engage reciprocally to consider the Sandwich Islands as an independent state, and never to take possession, either directly or under the title of a protectorate, or under any other form, of any part of the territory of which they are composed…”
This was the final act by which the Hawaiian Kingdom was admitted within the pale of civilized nations. Finding that nothing more could be accomplished for the present in Paris, Messrs. Richards and Haalilio returned to the United States in the spring of 1844. On the 6th of July they received a dispatch from Mr. J.C. Calhoun, the Secretary of State, informing them that the President regarded the statement of Mr. Webster and the appointment of a commissioner “as a full recognition on the part of the United States of the independence of the Hawaiian Government.”
It would be most informative to see how British and French embassies and consulates would respond now to this message if brought to their doorstep, together with a concise summary of the fraudulent U.S. claim.
As Kanaka Maoli we need to recognize and celebrate our National Day. We could start this year by sharing with our OHANA this information and bring back the pride of our Nation. When we truly believe it, we will all live it. It is our opportunity to truly rise up not in rebellion but in confidence and love for who we are and our legacy. Freedom is an inside job. A nation of honorable and loving families brings strength to each community. Our Nation is only as strong as it’s people. We can all start right now in our own home and family. It’s not them that is our problem. The problem is right in our mirror. Checkum go Checkum! Who’s looking back? Es da one!
mahalokeakua… hau’oli la ku’oko’a… everyday is a thankful day living in our Hawaiian Kingdom… aloha
It’s amazing for those that talk and walk Hawaiian Independence Day. Spending part of my day at Thomas Square on Nov 28, 2013 for the purpose of La Ku’oko’a. Eating Kalua pig, mash potato-gravy, sweet potato, guava juice, banana, poi, some fish and crabe and pie was a happy morning in good company.
To the United States of American: Do the honorable thing and stop all the lies and trying every crooked trick you can think of and instead, act with honor and with dignity deoccupy the Kingdom of Hawai’i as soon as withdraw from the Kingdom of Hawai’i. The War Crimes you have committed already are enough to make anybodies face turn in shame. Come on DO THE RIGHT THING AMERICA.
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Replacing Thanksgiving with La Ku‘oko‘a should be done by all Kanaka Maoli. Stop celebrating our oppressors holidays and start creating celebrations that have meaning in our own culture.
I only learned of La Ku’oko’a from Kahookahi Kanuha a young leader protecting Mauna a Wakea from desecration in a statement he made after kupuna were arrested in July of 2019. I was never taught this in school. I had never heard my parents and grandparents talk about it which means they were never taught our history growing up. But now that I know about La Ku’oko’a. I must share this knowledge with my ohana and extended. I will Never again celebrate November 28th as the holiday about the pilgrims who actually murdered native Americans. Thanksgiving like Christmas and other holiday’s have no cultural significance to me and all Kanaka Maoli and Hawaiians. Those are colonizers holiday’s. When we huli those beliefs we begin the decolonization process.
So let us all now celebrate November 28th as our National Holiday again. Let us celebrate Kanaka Maoli. Let us celebrate our Ohana and being Hawaiian. Let us celebrate our keiki and their future as they are taught and know of their rich history and their place in our islands and our Kingdom. Mahalo to the leaders on Mauna a Wakea for educating me. I will be forever grateful.