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2026 Hawaiian History Month
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Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī Coalition is proud to present the sixth Hawaiian History Month in 2026! In celebration of Queen Liliʻuokalani's 188th birthday, we are holding numerous in-person and virtual events throughout the month of September. Kicking off the month is a concert honoring Queen Liliʻuokalani on Sunday, August 30, 2026 followed by a birthday program in her honor on Wednesday, September 2, 2026!
See below for more info.
Follow us on social for more!
HAUʻOLI LĀ HĀNAU E LILIʻU
Sunday, 8/30/26
4:00pm HST
Kawaiahaʻo Church
957 Punchbowl St, Honolulu, HI 96813
Oʻahu
Mahalo nui to our
partners-
Kawaiahaʻo Church
Hawaiʻi Youth Opera Chorus
Eō E Liliʻu Concert
Open Hawaiian History Month with Eō E Liliʻu, a community concert celebrating the timeless compositions of Queen Liliʻuokalani as arranged by renowned Hawaiian music educator Dorothy Kahananui Gillette in The Queen's Song Book. Featuring community choirs, Hawaiian music ensembles, and hālau hula this free event honors the Queen's enduring musical legacy through the shared experience of mele.
This event will be LIVE In-person at Kawaiahaʻo Church and will also be livestreamed on Youtube.
Wednesday, 9/2/26
12pm HST
ʻIolani Palace
364 S King St, Honolulu, HI 96813, Oʻahu
(ma kai Diamond Head corner)
Mahalo nui to our
partners-
Friends of ʻIolani Palace
Hauʻoli Lā Hānau e Liliʻuokalani
Teach-In and Sing Along with Native Hawaiian Leaders & Students
Celebrate Queen Liliʻuokalani's birthday at ʻIolani Palace with a special teach-in and sing-along featuring Native Hawaiian leaders and students. Through stories, mele, and shared learning, this community gathering honors the Queen's enduring legacy and her lasting contributions to Hawaiʻi and its people.
Living History Experiences- September 5-6
Saturday, 9/5/26
9am - 2:30pm
(tours happen every 15mins)
ʻIolani Palace
364 S King St,
Honolulu, HI 96813
St. Andrews Cathedral
12pm
229 Queen Emma Square, Honolulu, HI 96813
Kanaina Building
(on the palace grounds)
2pm
364 S King St,
Honolulu, HI 96813
Mahalo nui to our
partners-
Friends of ʻIolani Palace
FREE ʻIolani Palace Tours, Memory Walk, & Ka Lei Maile Aliʻi Queen's Play
Along with FREE kamaʻāina tours (don't forget your Hawaiʻi ID) of the ʻIolani Palace, we are bringing back our "Memory Walk" event!
At 12pm, join us to take a stroll in our Mō’ī’s footsteps to places where she lived & prayed. We will begin at St. Andrews Cathedral then continue to Washington Place, Liliuokalani's statue, then finish at 'lolani Palace under the Queen's window. Community is welcome to bring a hoʻokupu to offer.
At 2pm, the public is invited to a performance of The Queen’s Women, a re-enactment of the 1897 Kūʻē Petition signing by the Hui Aloha ʻĀina o Nā Wahine in Hilo.
Saturday, 9/5/26
11am
(Hawaiʻi island) Kahuku Unit, Volcano National Park
Off Highway 11, near mile marker 70.5 in the Kaʻū District
Precious Garlands: The Life of Queen Emma and The Farewell of Queen Liliʻuokalani
Experience Precious Garlands: The Life of Queen Emma and The Farewell of Queen Liliʻuokalani, two moving living history performances that bring the stories of Hawaiʻi's beloved queens to life. Through storytelling, music, and theatrical interpretation, these productions honor their leadership, resilience, and enduring contributions to the Hawaiian Kingdom and its people.
Saturday, 9/5/26 AND
Sunday, 9/6/26
Tour Times:
-
4:00 pm
-
4:20 pm
-
4:40 pm
-
5:00 pm
ʻIolani Palace
364 S King St,
Honolulu, HI 96813
Check-in- Meet at the ‘Ewa end of the Hawai‘i State Library
Mai Poina: The Overthrow Walking Tours
Mai Poina: The Overthrow was developed as a walking tour written by local playwright Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl -- a shorter, more concise version of a living history pageant entitled January 1893 that depicted the events that led to the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom.
Recreating four pivital days in history, the tours present dramatic interpretations of history at six stations at and around the ‘Iolani Palace.
The original production was performed in 1993 during the three days prior to the 100th anniversary of the overthrow, and featured over 50 actors performing throughout downtown Honolulu. The walking tour emphasizes little known perspectives of Native Hawaiians and others, such as Japanese, Chinese and European immigrants, who were negatively impacted by the overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy and other subsequent unlawful actions.
Included with each of the nearly two dozen performances are scholar discussions and an extensive Viewer’s Guide that contribute to and encourage open dialogue. We hope you are informed by this presentation of Mai Poina: The Overthrow, and inspired to learn more about Hawai‘i’s true history.
Native Hawaiians Abroad- September 9-11
Wednesday, 9/9/26
5:30pm (EST)
11:30am (Hawaiʻi time)
(Washington DC)
In-person- Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) Office
1025 Connecticut Ave NW #600, Washington, DC 20036
Mahalo nui to our
partners-
Ke Aliʻi Makaʻāinana Hawaiian Civic Club
Aliʻi Diplomatic Missions- A panel discussion
Join the Ke Aliʻi Makaʻāinana Hawaiian Civic Club for Native Hawaiians Abroad—Aliʻi Diplomatic Missions, a panel discussion exploring the Hawaiian Kingdom's diplomatic missions to Washington, D.C. Learn how Hawaiian aliʻi and their representatives engaged in nation-to-nation diplomacy while advocating for the sovereignty and future of Hawaiʻi, and why these historic missions continue to resonate today.
Thursday, 9/10/26
10am- 12pm (EST)
(Washington DC) Start at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel
1401 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004
2:30pm - 3:30pm (EST)
(Washington DC) Meet at the Capitol Visitor Center
1st St SE, Washington, DC 20515
Mahalo nui to our
partners-
Ke Aliʻi Makaʻāinana Hawaiian Civic Club
Aliʻi Diplomatic Missions Walking Tour
Follow in the footsteps of Hawaiian aliʻi and diplomats on a guided walking tour through historic Washington, D.C. Visit the sites where Hawaiian Kingdom leaders conducted nation-to-nation diplomacy between 1842 and 1898, and discover the enduring legacy of Hawaiʻi's international relationships.
Capitol Visitor Center Tour
Continue your journey through Hawaiian history with a guided tour of the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center. Walk the halls where Queen Emma visited, King Kalākaua was received by Congress in 1874, and Prince Kūhiō later served as Hawaiʻi's Delegate to Congress, reflecting on the enduring legacy of Hawaiian leadership and diplomacy.
Friday, 9/11/26
10am- 12pm (EST)
(Just outside Washington DC) Mt. Vernon
3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon, Virginia, 22121
Mahalo nui to our
partners-
Ke Aliʻi Makaʻāinana Hawaiian Civic Club
Mt. Vernon Grounds and House Tour
Walk in the footsteps of Queen Kapiʻolani and Princess Lydia Liliʻuokalani during a guided tour of George Washington's Mount Vernon estate. Discover how their 1887 journey to Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee reflected the Hawaiian Kingdom's place on the international stage.
Student Documentary Showcase & Panel Discussion- September 12
Saturday, 9/12/26
10:30am - 12:30pm HST
King Kamehameha V Judiciary History Center
417 S King St,
Honolulu, HI 96813,
Oʻahu
Hawaiʻi Historic Day Student Documentary Video Showcase
On Saturday, September 13, gather in Hawaiʻi’s Supreme Court to watch five short documentary films produced by student filmmakers for Hawaiʻi History Day—a state-wide civic education program organized by Hawaiʻi Council for the Humanities. Student-produced films explore topics including Queen's Health Systems, Hansen's disease (leprosy) in Hawaiʻi, the Kalima Lawsuit, sugar plantation labor, the introduction of the telephone to Hawaiʻi, and the enduring practice of lāʻau lapaʻau, followed by a discussion with the student filmmakers.
Meleanna Meyer, Hawaiian filmmaker, artist, and educator, will moderate a discussion with the student filmmakers as they share their research and reflect on the civic power of filmmaking.
The program will conclude with a reception of light food and refreshments.
Seating is limited. Please RSVP to reserve a seat!
Mai Poina: The Overthrow Walking Tours- September 12-13
Saturday, 9/12/26 AND
Sunday, 9/13/26
Tour Times:
-
4:00 pm
-
4:20 pm
-
4:40 pm
-
5:00 pm
ʻIolani Palace
364 S King St,
Honolulu, HI 96813
Check-in- Meet at the ‘Ewa end of the Hawai‘i State Library
Mai Poina: The Overthrow Walking Tours
Mai Poina: The Overthrow was developed as a walking tour written by local playwright Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl -- a shorter, more concise version of a living history pageant entitled January 1893 that depicted the events that led to the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom.
Recreating four pivital days in history, the tours present dramatic interpretations of history at six stations at and around the ‘Iolani Palace.
The original production was performed in 1993 during the three days prior to the 100th anniversary of the overthrow, and featured over 50 actors performing throughout downtown Honolulu. The walking tour emphasizes little known perspectives of Native Hawaiians and others, such as Japanese, Chinese and European immigrants, who were negatively impacted by the overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy and other subsequent unlawful actions.
Included with each of the nearly two dozen performances are scholar discussions and an extensive Viewer’s Guide that contribute to and encourage open dialogue. We hope you are informed by this presentation of Mai Poina: The Overthrow, and inspired to learn more about Hawai‘i’s true history.
Hoʻōla- September 16 - 18
Wednesday, 9/16/26
6:00pm HST
John A. Burns School of Medicine Auditorium
651 Ilalo Street, Kakaʻako
Honolulu, HI 96813
Mahalo nui to our
co-sponsors-
The Impact of Reformatories
and Industrial Schools in Hawai‘i
Presented by Dr. Maile Arvin
Dr. Maile Arvin examines the experiences of Native Hawaiian children who were institutionalized during the Territorial period. Discover how this history continues to shape understandings of Native Hawaiian health, resilience, and healing.
Friday, 9/18/26
6pm HST
Mahalo nui to our
co-sponsors-
Holoholo Honolulu:
A Tour of Historic Health Sites
A trolley ride through Kaka‘ako, Chinatown and Kalihi-Pālama to imagine the landmarks as you hear the stories of historic health events and the people who responded to public health emergencies.
Pick-up 6 PM ꟾ Drop-off 7:15 PM
After your register you will receive a confirmation with more info about parking and other logistics.
We only have limited seating available on the Trolley so register today!
The Beginning of a Garden Living History Performance -
September 19 - 20
Saturday, 9/19/26 AND
Sunday, 9/20/26
Tour Times:
-
1:00 pm
-
1:30 pm
-
2:00 pm
Foster Botanical Garden
50 N Vineyard Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96817
The Beginning of a Garden
Living History Performance
Step into Hawaiʻi's past with The Beginning of a Garden, an immersive living history performance by Hawaiian playwright Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl. Set within Foster Botanical Garden, this guided experience reveals how the people, plants, and places of the Hawaiian Kingdom shaped one of Hawaiʻi's oldest botanical gardens, bringing history to life through the very landscape where it unfolded.
Precious Garlands Living History Performance- September 21-22
Monday, 9/21/26
7:00PM
AND
Tuesday, 9/22/26
3:00PM
(Hawaiʻi island) Lyman Museum
276 Haili St, Hilo, HI 96720
Precious Garlands: The Life of Queen Emma and The Farewell of Queen Liliʻuokalani
Experience Precious Garlands: The Life of Queen Emma and The Farewell of Queen Liliʻuokalani, two moving living history performances that bring the stories of Hawaiʻi's beloved queens to life. Through storytelling, music, and theatrical interpretation, these productions honor their leadership, resilience, and enduring contributions to the Hawaiian Kingdom and its people.
Celebrating 50 Years of Aloha ʻĀina with Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana -
September 22 - 24
Tuesday, 9/22/26
6:00PM
Mission Memorial Auditorium
550 S King St, Honolulu, HI, 96813
50 Years of Aloha ʻĀina Panel Presentation
More info coming soon.
Thursday, 9/24/26
5:30PM - 8:00PM
Bishop Museum- Hawaiian Hall
1525 Bernice St, Honolulu, HI 96817
Laʻa: Consecration of Aloha ʻĀina in ʻAha
Making Laʻa is the first step in any successful kanaka endeavor. Appealing to the akua and kūpuna is essential to all major tasks that a kanaka takes. Because they are our sources of mana, we recognize that it is only with their support and aloha that our tasks will be meaningfully fulfilled. Our panel explores the moʻolelo of making and being laʻa on Kahoʻolawe. We will also trace how the spirit of laʻa has branched out to inspire an aloha ʻāina that places its faith in our akua across our pae moku. Panelists: Luana Busby-Neff, Kaliko Baker, Huihui Kanahele Mossman and Kalā Mossman. Moderated by Kaipulaumakaniolono Keala.
Living History Experiences- September 25 - 27
Friday, 9/25/26
6:00PM
(Hawaiʻi island) Kamehameha Schools Keaʻau Campus, William Charles Lunalilo Center
16-716 Volcano Road. Keaʻau, HI 96749
Precious Garlands: The Life of Queen Emma and The Farewell of Queen Liliʻuokalani
Experience Precious Garlands: The Life of Queen Emma and The Farewell of Queen Liliʻuokalani, two moving living history performances that bring the stories of Hawaiʻi's beloved queens to life. Through storytelling, music, and theatrical interpretation, these productions honor their leadership, resilience, and enduring contributions to the Hawaiian Kingdom and its people.
Saturday, 9/26/26
6:00PM
(Hawaiʻi island) The Episcopal Church of the Holy Apostles
1407 Kapiʻolani St, Hilo, HI 96720
Precious Garlands: The Life of Queen Emma and The Farewell of Queen Liliʻuokalani
Experience Precious Garlands: The Life of Queen Emma and The Farewell of Queen Liliʻuokalani, two moving living history performances that bring the stories of Hawaiʻi's beloved queens to life. Through storytelling, music, and theatrical interpretation, these productions honor their leadership, resilience, and enduring contributions to the Hawaiian Kingdom and its people.
Saturday, 9/26/26 AND
Sunday, 9/27/26
Tour Times:
-
1:00 pm
-
1:30 pm
-
2:00 pm
Foster Botanical Garden
50 N Vineyard Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96817
The Beginning of a Garden
Living History Performance
Step into Hawaiʻi's past with The Beginning of a Garden, an immersive living history performance by Hawaiian playwright Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl. Set within Foster Botanical Garden, this guided experience reveals how the people, plants, and places of the Hawaiian Kingdom shaped one of Hawaiʻi's oldest botanical gardens, bringing history to life through the very landscape where it unfolded.
Other Events
Looking for more ways to celebrate? The events linked below are hosted by fellow community organizations as part of Hawaiian History Month!
Hawaiʻi Events
Link
Maui Events
Link
Oʻahu Events
Link
Kauaʻi Events
Link