History

The Hawaiian Patriotic League: A Timeline

1893

Jan 17 - The Hawaiian Kingdom government is overthrown by insurgents.

Hawaiian patriots across the paeʻāina organize Hui Aloha ʻĀina, The Hawaiian Patriotic League. They form 37 Branches across five islands within 44 days.

Mar 2 - A petition against annexation is adopted by the League and is included in the Blount Report which proves instrumental in defeating the first attempt to annex Hawaiʻi to the United States.

1896

The League formally changes its name to Ka ʻAhahui Hawaiʻi Aloha ʻĀina, The Hawaiian Patriotic League of the Hawaiian Islands.

1897

The League organizes the a petition against annexation which contained 21,269 signatures over 559 pages in a single week. Five representatives of the League brought the petition before the U.S. Senate thus defeating the second and final attempt to ratify a treaty of annexation.

During this time, another petition which called for the restoration of the monarchy was created under Hui Kalaiʻāina. These petitions would come to be known as The Kūʻē Petitions.

In 1897, Hui Aloha ʻĀina had -
18,500 Women's League members
7,500 Men's League members

Women's Hawaiian Patriotic League

Men's Hawaiian Patriotic League

"Inā e hoʻohui ʻia kākou me Amerika, ʻo ia ko kākou ʻae ʻana aku e kanu ola ʻia kākou ka lāhui i loko o nā pōpilikia he nui e hōʻea mai ana ma hope o ka hoʻohui ʻia ʻana."
- James Kauila

To consent for our nation to be subsumed within America is to agree that we, the nation, be buried alive in the many hardships that will surely follow annexation.

1898

Despite the fervent protest of the Hawaiian people, the U.S. unilaterally asserted that it annexed Hawaii as spoils of the Spanish-American war via the Newlands Resolution.

1900

Apr 30 - The Territory of Hawaii is created as U.S. President McKinley signs the Organic Act. The Territory era would last until 1959.

"At this time, the United States of America rules over me and all of you, my beloved people. It is a thing of great pain to me ...

I now advise that the people should look to the guidance of the leaders of the people - Mr. Kaulia and Mr. Kalauokalani. It has fallen to them, the responsibility for watching over the rights of the people granted by the laws handed down by America so that the people will receive the rights and benefits for generations to come..."

- H.M. Queen Liliʻuokalani

1901

Ka ʻAhahui Hawaiʻi Aloha ʻĀina consolidates with Ka ʻAhahui Kālaiʻāina Hawaiʻi (The Hawaiian Political Association) to form Ka ʻAoʻao Kūʻokoʻa Home (The Independent Home Rule Party) during the territorial period.

The Home Rule party gained control of both houses of the Territorial Legislature in 1901 under Robert William Wilcox. The next year, Prince Kuhiō split off from the Home Rule party. The party would continue on for another decade after that until finally dissolving in 1912.

1959

Aug 21 - The Admission Act dissolves the Territory of Hawaii and establishes the State of Hawaii as the 50th U.S. State.

Hawaiian national consciousness dwindles ...

... then rekindles again

2016

Jun 18 - The first organizational meeting to restore Ka ʻAhahui Hawaiʻi Aloha ʻĀina o Ko Hawaiʻi Pae ʻĀina is held. After a series of public outreach and mass meetings, Ka ʻAhahui Hawaiʻi Aloha ʻĀina is restored.

Regional branches are formed:

  • 3/16: Hui Aloha ʻĀina o Las Vegas

  • 7/31: Hui Aloha ʻĀina o Hilo

  • 10/18: Hui Aloha ʻĀina o Honolulu

  • 12/14: Hui Aloha ʻĀina o Anahola

  • 12/16: Hui Aloha ʻĀina o Ka Lei Maile Aliʻi

2017

  • Jan 17: Hui Aloha ʻĀina o Waimea was formed.

  • Aug 4-6: The first Annual Convention of the League was held on the grounds of ʻIolani Palace attended by 22 delegates assembled from six chartered branches.

2019

  • Jan 5: Hui Aloha ʻĀina o Puna becomes the seventh chartered branch of the restored League.

  • Jan 10-13: The 2019 Annual Convention of the League was held at Hawaiʻi Community College in Hilo.

  • May 30: Hui Aloha ʻĀina o ka Malu ʻUlu o Lele, first formed in March of 1893, is formally reorganized at Mokuhinia, Mokuʻula, Lāhainā.

The Lāhui Hawaiʻi, stirred to protect Maunakea, mobilizes in numbers not seen since the time of the Kūʻē petitions.

2020

Business essentially halts for two years while under threat of the global COVID-19 pandemic. All branches of the restored Ka ʻAhahui Hawaiʻi Aloha ʻĀina and its Central Body lay dormant.

2022

  • Feb: Hui Aloha ʻĀina o Honolulu re-organizes and ʻIlima Long is elected Pelekikena. The branch hosts a series of community educational events surrounding the crisis at Red Hill where the U.S. Navy is leaking jet fuel into the water source.

  • Aug 26-27: Representatives from five KAHAA branches hold a conference in Lāhainā, Maui to renew the League's purpose and strategic plan.

  • Sep 1: HAA Lāhainā holds its first regular meeting in over two years.

  • Oct 20: The KAHAA Central Body holds officer elections. ʻIlima Long is elected Pelekikena of the League.

  • Nov 25: HAA Lāhainā hosts its first membership drive at its annual Lā Kūʻokoʻa celebration program.

ʻAʻole i pau ...