ʻOnipaʻa 2024 - 131 Years of Illegal Occupation
The Historical Injustice of the Overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy
On January 17th, 1893, a group of Western businessmen supported by the US military forcefully removed the Hawaiian monarchy from power. This marked the beginning of a chain of events that would lead to the loss of culture, land, and identity for Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiians). This year, 2024, marked 131 years since the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, and the 10th anniversary of the powerful ʻOnipaʻa march. The HAPA team was humbled to walk alongside the lāhui o Hawaiʻi to show our solidarity and be ʻOnipaʻa (steadfast) and we continue to advocate for justice for our people.
Although the US government has apologized for their involvement in the dethroning of Queen Liliʻuokalani, our community has yet to fully recover from this injustice. We gathered in unity to honor our ancestors and inspire future generations of Kānaka to carry on this mission.
The day began with a series of ceremonies at Maunaʻala in Nuʻuanu, paying tribute to the Hawaiian Monarchy. The Lāhainā Strong community led the way, flying in from Maui and standing at the forefront. Thousands of people from Hawaiian charter schools, Kamehameha Schools students, Hawaiʻi public schools, and various groups from Oʻahu and sister islands marched peacefully to ʻIolani Palace. Once there, we had the opportunity to meet with community members, listen to powerful speakers share the history of this day, and witness performances of ʻea, poetry, music, and ʻoli. The opportunity for our community members to witness HAPA in person, united from all the different islands, brought me great joy.
As the only nation to have once been an independent monarchy, Hawaiʻi serves as a reminder of this historical injustice every January 17th. We will continue to fight until the sovereignty of the Hawaiian Kingdom is rightfully returned to its people. Queen Liliʻuokalani and the people of Hawaiʻi who have sacrificed so much will never be forgotten. Ea forever!
Photography by Fern Holland and Fatima Abed from the ʻOnipaʻa Peace March 2024
About the Author
Nanea Lo, HAPA’s Administrative and Programs Coordinator
Nanea Lo is from Papakōlea, Oʻahu. She is a Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian). Lo's educational expertise is in community planning and urban planning infrastructures. She is also a podcast host for Native Stories.
Lo is a public servant and serves as the Kona representative for the Oʻahu Island Burial Council, a commissioner on the Oʻahu Historic Preservation Commission, sits on the board of the Hawaiʻi Workers Center, newly elected member of the Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi Executive Committee, and serves on the grant making committee for Hawaiʻi People’s Fund.
Through civic engagement, podcast hosting, and community organizing, Lo advocates for Hawaiian sovereignty, Aloha 'Āina, and feminism on the national and international scale. She has been a part of innovative local and international education and advocacy programs such as Planned Parenthood “National” Storyteller for the Pacific Northwest and Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi-Asia Pacific Leadership Program, Native American Political Leadership Program, Kuleana Academy, Young Pacific Leaders, and Peace Scholars. She believes that relationships are the fabric of life and that Aloha ʻĀina is forever.
