ALOHA Outside The Box

Kicking off our very first collection of prints inspired by the poʻe aloha ʻāina of 1893.

Officially launching this January 17th of 2025 in commemoration of 132 years since the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, we call this collection, Mai Poina, never to forget.

While the indoctrination of American teachings in our schools sought to erase the truth from our history, that we may believe in the false narrative of Hawaiians who stood idle as the United States usurped Hawaiian sovereignty, we have many kūpuna and kumu (elders and scholars) to thank, for their research and resolve to perpetuate the true accounts that led to the illegal occupation of the Hawaiian Kingdom.

In an intention to highlight the Hawaiian patriots, steadfast in their love for their lāhui (nation) and kulāiwi (native homeland), we shift the focus of the narrative away from the injustice of the overthrow, to the courage and resilience of kānaka maoli, and highlight their unwavering aloha.

Liliʻu Kingdom Stamps

Remembering a time when the Hawaiian Kingdom thrived, the Hawaiian Kingdom stamp of 1891 represents Queen Liliʻuokalani and the year she ascended to the throne. Fueled by the pleas of her people, one of her main objectives upon becoming Queen was to undo the “Bayonet” Constitution of 1887 signed by her brother Kalākaua, under duress. This constitution stripped the authority from the mōʻī, and shifted the power to benefit the agenda of the foreigners who were set on taking Hawaiʻi. Just days before the overthrow, Hawaiians gathered outside of ʻIolani Palace expecting the Queen’s proclamation of a new constitution. Under the urging of her cabinet who betrayed her, she instead called for patience and peace. Inevitably, on January 17, 1893, her kingdom was seized in an act of war. Liliʻu, in her will to prioritize and protect her people, insisted on peace as she put her faith in righteousness and the diplomacy of the United States. May we never forget her example of courage and aloha as she acted, and endured, to care for and preserve her beloved lāhui. “You must remember, never cease to act because you fear that you may fail.” - Queen Liliʻuokalani

Ka Leo Headlines

Lifting the collective voice of the lāhui, and their response to the coup d'etat, we present a collection of headlines and article clippings in a print collage that we call, Ka Leo Headlines. Ka Leo O Ka Lāhui, and Hawaiʻi Holomua, are the two Hawaiian Language newspapers of the time that reflected the viewpoints of the Hawaiian people, and the selected clippings were published in these nūpepa on January 17, 1893 and the days to follow. Layered in this collage, you will find articles recalling the factual accounts of the coup d'etat, prayers uplifting the queen and the people, expressions of disbelief, lamentation, and uncertainty of what was happening, pleas for patience and peace, one of the early publications of the timeless aloha ʻāina anthem known as “Kaulana Nā Pua”, and other headlines that represent sentiments of aloha ʻāina, a term that was coined to refer to patriotism of those who remained loyal to the Queen and stood for the sovereignty of the Hawaiian Kingdom. May we never forget.

ʻAi Pōhaku

This print of the pōhaku kuʻi ʻai is our twist on ʻAi Pōhaku, another name of the famous mele lāhui, Kaulana Nā Pua. This mele (song), composed by Ellen Kekoaohiwaikalani Wright Prendergast, also found in our Ka Leo Headlines print, was published in slightly different versions and under a few different titles, Mele ʻAi Pōhaku being one of them. The line from the most widely known version, “ua lawa mākou i ka pōhakui ka ʻai kamahaʻo o ka ʻāina”, was the response of the poʻe aloha ʻāina, perhaps more specifically, the members of the Royal Hawaiian Band. As employees of the Hawaiian Kingdom, they were given the ultimatum to denounce their Queen, and sign allegiance to the self proclaimed Provisional Government, or lose their government job. In their steadfastness, they expressed that they would be “content with rocks, the marvelous food of the land”. The pōhaku of this print, is the revered pōhaku kuʻi ʻai, the wondrous stone used for pounding food. It represents the firmness of the people as they stood behind their queen, it represents the nourishment for our ʻohana, and the kaona, the hidden meaning, goes on if you use your imagination!

Hae Aloha

In the spirit of aloha ʻāina, we had to include our hae aloha, our beloved flag, as a part of this collection. As a symbol of allegiance, we lift our hae ʻoiaʻiʻo, our red white and blue for those that came before us “a hiki i ke aloha ʻāina hope loa”, until the last aloha ʻāina.

Mai Poina Collection

Mai Poina Collection

Liliʻu Kingdom Stamps

Ka Leo Headlines

ʻAi Pōhaku

Hae Aloha