Ha'apea Hawaii Day: History, Symbolism, and the Revival of National Spirit July thirty-first. In the calendar, the height of summer, heat, holidays. But for Hawaii and all those connected to this amazing archipelago, this date is not just a day in the calendar. It is Ha'apea Hawaii Day (Ka Hae Hawaii Day) — a festival that reminds us of the rich, dramatic, and often tragic history of the islands. It is a day when the Hawaiians, despite all the vicissitudes of fate, once again raise their unique flag — the only one in the USA that combines the star-spangled heritage of America and the British \"Union Jack.\" And behind this flag is not just a design, but an entire epic of independence, loss, and hope. Roots of the Celebration: How a British Admiral Returned the Flag to Hawaii The history of Ha'apea Hawaii Day does not begin in 1990 when it was officially proclaimed, but much earlier — in 1843. This was the year when Hawaii was on the verge of losing its independence. It all started when British Captain George Pollard, acting on an old agreement between King Kamehameha I and Captain George Vancouver, decided that Hawaii was British territory. He ordered the destruction of all Hawaiian flags and hoisted the \"Union Jack\" in their place. This was an act of colonial tyranny that threatened the sovereignty of the young kingdom. However, Britain, to its credit, did not support Pollard's autonomism. Admiral Richard Darton Thomas was sent to Hawaii to rectify the situation. On July 31, 1843, at the site now known as Thomas Square in Honolulu, the Hawaiian flag was raised again. King Kamehameha III, who had restored his lawful authority, spoke the historical words that became the motto of the state: \"Ua mau ke ea o ka 'aina i ka pono\" — \"The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.\" This day became the first national holiday of Hawaii — the day of the restoration of independence. And although today's Ha'apea Hawaii Day has official status since 1990, its roots g ... Read more