Unveiling the Statue of His Majesty King Kamehameha III
2018 at Thomas Square Park where sovereignty was restored back to
H.M. King Kamehameha III by Great Britain
HRH Princess Owana Kaʻōhelelani, members of the royal family, benevolent royal societies and Mayor Caldwell paid tribute to remember Hawaii's history as hundreds turned out for the unveiling of the statue of H.M. King Kamehameha III.
King Kamehameha III was the longest reigning monarch and on July 31, 2018, marks the 175th commemoration of La Hoʻihoʻi Ea (Sovereignty Restoration day), which occurred on the grounds of what is now Thomas Square Park, that commemorates Rear Admiral Thomas of the British Navy for making things rights.
The park is where the Hawaiian Kingdom was restored back to King Kamehameha III from the British after five months of occupation. King Kamehameha III ruled for 29 years and in that time, he proclaimed the islands' first constitution and founded Honolulu's fire department.
Members of the Honolulu fire department honor guard, dressed in uniforms from the 1850s, stood watch over the statue. After the unveiling, the hoʻokupu was presented by HRH Princess Owana, members of the royal family and the knights, dames & officers of the Royal Order of the Crown of Hawaiʻi as well as Māmakakaua, Order of Kamehameha I, Kaʻahumanu Society and the Daughters of Hawai'i.