Hawaiian History Month is an annual invitation to honor Queen Liliʻuokalani, celebrate the rich history of Hawaiʻi and its Indigenous people, and deepen our understanding of the people, places and events that continue to shape these Islands.
As communities across the pae ʻāina come together each September for a month of special events, we invite everyone in Hawaiʻi — and around the world — to continue learning, sharing, and celebrating Hawaiian history throughout the year. This year’s celebration features concerts, living history performances, walking tours, panel discussions, student documentaries, cultural demonstrations and educational programs that bring Hawaiʻi’s history to life.
Whether you are able to join us in person or participate through livestreamed events, each experience is an opportunity to remember the resilience of our kūpuna, honor the strength of our Kānaka ‘Ōiwi and our lāhui, and celebrate the living traditions that continue to guide Hawai‘i today.
More than a series of events, Hawaiian History Month is an ‘aha: a collection of experiences and gatherings that heal and strengthen our aloha for one another and for this beloved place, connecting past, present and future.
It reminds us that we all share a collective kuleana to aloha our ‘āina, preserve our culture, respect the rights of Native Hawaiians, and perpetuate EA so that future generations inherit a thriving Hawai‘i. May the aloha we experience throughout this month inspire each of us to live our EA every day.
To explore the full calendar of events, register for programs, access livestreams, discover educational resources, and find ways to celebrate Hawaiian History Month throughout the year visit hawaiianhistorymonth.org.
And follow us on social media for event updates, historical stories, and opportunities to stay connected with the growing Hawaiian History Month movement.
Hawaiian History Month Events
To register for remaining events, visit hawaiianhistorymonth.org.
“The Impact of Reformatories and Industrial Schools in Hawai‘i” presented by Dr. Maile Arvin (Kakaʻako, O‘ahu)
When: 6 p.m. on Sept. 16
Where: John A. Burns School of Medicine, MEB Auditorium, 651 ʻIlalo St.
What: 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.
"The Beginning of a Garden" living history performance (Honolulu, O‘ahu)
When: Sept. 19 – 1 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2 p.m.
Sept. 20 – 1 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2 p.m.
Sept. 26 – 1 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2 p.m.
Sept. 27 – 1 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2 p.m.
Where: Foster Botanical Garden, 50 N Vineyard Blvd. (Honolulu, O‘ahu)
What: Step into Hawai‘i’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 Hawai‘i’s oldest botanical gardens, bringing history to life through the very landscape where it unfolded.
"Precious Garlands: The Life of Queen Emma and The Farewell of Queen Lili‘uokalani" (Hawaiʻi Island)
When: 7 p.m. on Sept. 21
3 p.m. on Sept. 22
Where: Lyman Museum, 276 Haili St., Hilo
What: Experience "Precious Garlands: The Life of Queen Emma and The Farewell of Queen Lili‘uokalani," two moving living history performances that bring the stories of Hawai‘i’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.
Other showings:
When: 6 p.m. on Sept. 25
Where: Kamehameha Schools Hawaiʻi, William Charles Lunalilo Center, 16-716 Volcano Road, Kea‘au
When: 6 p.m. on Sept. 26
Where: The Episcopal Church of the Holy Apostles, 1407 Kapiʻolani St., Hilo
The Historic Roles of Kanaloa Kaho‘olawe Panel Presentation (Honolulu, O‘ahu)
When: 6 p.m. on Sept. 22
Where: Mission Memorial Auditorium, 550 S King St.
What: A panel discussion with Dr. Davianna Pōmaika‘i McGregor, Michael Nāho‘opi‘i, and Hardy Spoeher moderated by Kim Ku‘ulei Birnie. McGregor is a professor emerita of ethnic studies and oral history at UH Mānoa and a longtime PKO leader. Nāho‘opi‘i is the executive director of the Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve Commission and a mo‘olono for the PKO. Spoehr is a historian who served as secretariat of the Congressionally formed Kaho‘olawe Island Conveyance Commission. The panel will discuss the varied historic roles of Kaho‘olawe over the centuries including as a place of refuge, a training ground for open ocean navigation, a royal refuge, a forest, a penal colony, a cattle ranch, and as a live-fire military training arena.
Laʻa: Consecration of Aloha ʻĀina in ʻAha (Kapālama, O‘ahu)
When: 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Sept. 24
Where: Bishop Museum – Hawaiian Hall, 1525 Bernice St.
What: Making La‘a is the first step in any successful Kānaka 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. This panel explores the mo‘olelo of making and being la‘a on Kaho‘olawe. We will also trace how the spirit of la‘a has branched out to inspire an aloha ‘āina that places its faith in our akua across our pae moku. Panelists include Luana Busby-Neff, Kaliko Baker, Huihui Kanahele Mossman, and Kalā Mossman. Moderated by Kaipulaumakaniolono Keala.
E hoʻomanaʻo. E aʻo. E hoʻolauleʻa. E ola ke ea. Remember. Learn. Celebrate. May our ea continue to live.
This article is reprinted with permission from OHA's Ka Wai Ola newspaper: "Hawaiian History Month: A Month to Remember, A Year to Celebrate," by Ka Wai Ola in its September 2026 issue, Vol. 43 No. 9. Read more at kawaiola.news.
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