[Blaze]

History of the Hawaiian Flag


Ka Hae Hawai`i - the Hawaiian Flag ( ratio 1 : 2) was commissioned by Kamehameha the Great in 1816 during the Hawaiian religious Kapu system.
The eight alternating white, red and blue strips represent the eight major islands of Hawai`i. The British Union Jack represents Hawai`i's historical relationship with Great Britain as it's protectorate as well as suggesting a stylized representation of a puela - a triangular standard laying across two crossed spears called an alia - which is the symbol of an ali`i - chief. This representation is clearly illustrated at the center of the royal Seal of Hawai`i.
Although Hawai`i's independence was temporarily challenged by Lord Paulette of Great Britain in 1843, Great Britain sent Admiral Thomas to officially restore and recognize Hawai`i's independence and Hawaiian Flag on July 31, 1843 at what is now called Thomas square in Honolulu, Hawai`i.
On that same day at Kawaiaha`o church Kamehameha III first proclaimed the motto, "Ua mau ke ea o ka `aina i ka pono." "The life [independence] of the land is perpetuated in righteousness." How England's colors got into our Hawaii State Flag? This goes back to the days following Captain Cook's discovery of the Hawaiian Islands. A British sea Captain by the name of Vancouver headed an expedition to the Islands 15 years after he had made the trip with Cook. Vancouver admired the Hawaiians and their ways, and in turn, the Hawaiians really respected Vancouver. Now Vancouver had become very good friends with Kamehameha I and one day, it occurred to Vancouver that the Islands would most assuredly benefit by being placed under the protection of Great Britain and hence, in 1794, with a wave of his sword and the hosting of his motherland's flag over Kamehameha's royal home, Hawaii was proclaimed a protectorate of England. Unfortunately, the British government did not concur with Captain Vancouver. So his action was never ratified and a real protectorate was never established.
Now England's colors continued to fly over the kingdom for many years, and that alone offered an implied protection. As a mater of fact, Kamehameha and his chiefs considered themselves "men of Britain" and as they conquered the remaining Islands to form the Kingdom of Hawaii, they did so under the colors of England.
Once the kingdom was formed though, it was decided that their own flag should represent the Hawaiian Islands. Captain Beckley, an Englishman who was married to a Hawaiian woman, was given the task to create this flag, and with the aid of some English bunting material, he created what would represent a compromise between his love for his mother county, growing U. S. influence, and his respect for the Hawaiian people.
So what he did was to retain the Union Jack but reduce it in size and put it in the upper left-hand corner. He then also made the flag red, white and blue to keep U. S. growing influence happy by showing Kamehameha's friendship to all and then put in eight strips to represent the eight major islands in Kamehameha's kingdom.
Well this is how Hawaii's Flag came to be.

The Hawaiian Flag has represented Hawai`i for over 180 years, and is presently authorized to represent the State of Hawai`i on land and sea and is the flag of the Nation of Hawaiian People - La Hae Hawai`i O Ka Lahui Hawai`i Nei!