Hawaiian History Month: A Time to Remember, Learn, and Celebrate Together

I ka wā ma mua, i ka wā ma hope.
The future is found in the past.

This September, communities across Hawaiʻi are invited to gather for Hawaiian History Month following the passage of Act 167 (2025), which officially designates September as Hawaiian History Month in recognition of Queen Liliʻuokalani and the enduring contributions and resilience of Kanaka ʻŌiwi (Native Hawaiians).

The designation represents years of advocacy led by the Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī Coalition in partnership with organizations throughout the pae ʻāina, including the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs.

More than a commemorative month, Hawaiian History Month is an invitation for all who call Hawaiʻi home – and those who visit – to deepen their understanding of the people, places, and events that continue to shape these islands.

This year’s observance begins on Sunday, August 30, with Eō E Liliʻu, a concert at Kawaiahaʻo Church celebrating the life, music, and enduring legacy of Queen Liliʻuokalani.

Throughout September, residents and visitors will have opportunities to experience Hawaiian history through walking tours, theatrical performances, panel discussions, music, films, and cultural presentations that bring history to life.

One of this year’s special collaborations honors another milestone in our community. The Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī Coalition is proud to partner with Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana in celebrating 50 Years of Aloha ʻĀina — Laʻa, Maʻa, Paʻa (Sanctify, Familiarize, Solidify).

For five decades, the ʻOhana has demonstrated unwavering aloha kūpaʻa i ka ʻāina ʻo Kohemālamalama, inspiring generations through the restoration of Kahoʻolawe and reminding us that aloha ʻāina is both a value and a lifelong commitment. Together, we invite communities throughout Hawaiʻi to recommit themselves to mālama ʻāina, ea, and the stewardship of our islands.

The month also celebrates Hawaiʻi’s remarkable cultural landscapes. In partnership with the Friends of Honolulu Botanical Gardens and the City and County of Honolulu, audiences are invited to experience The Beginning of a Garden, the acclaimed living history play by Hawaiian playwright Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl presented at Foster Botanical Garden.

As participants walk through the garden, they will meet historical figures including Dr. William Hillebrand, Mary Mikahala Foster, and Dr. Harold Lyon, whose stewardship helped establish what became Honolulu’s oldest botanical garden. The performance beautifully reminds us that Hawaiʻi’s history is not only preserved in books, but also in the trees, landscapes, and places we continue to care for today.

Whether you attend one event or many, Hawaiian History Month offers opportunities to listen, learn, reflect, and celebrate together. Each gathering reminds us that history is not simply something we remember, it is something we continue to shape through our actions and our commitment to one another.

We invite everyone to join us throughout September as we celebrate Hawaiian History Month and honor the stories, people, and places that continue to guide Hawaiʻi’s future.

A complete calendar of events, registration information, and updates is available at hawaiianhistorymonth.org.