It is everywhere. You’ll see it on the back of a state quarter. It’s etched into the seal of the State of Hawaii. It’s printed on government buildings from Honolulu to Hilo. Ua mau ke ea o ka ʻāina i ka pono. Most people—even those who grew up in the islands—usually translate it as "the life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness."
That’s the "official" version. But honestly? That translation is kinda shallow. It misses the political weight, the history of a stolen kingdom, and the nuance of the Hawaiian language. If you think this is just a catchy phrase about being a good person, you’re missing the real story.
The Day the Kingdom Almost Died
To understand why these words matter, we have to go back to 1843. This wasn't a time of peace. It was a time of massive colonial pressure. A British captain named Lord George Paulet decided, on his own whim, to seize control of the Hawaiian Islands. He forced King Kamehameha III to surrender the kingdom under the threat of violence. For five months, the British flag flew over Hawaii.
Imagine that. Your entire sovereign nation, gone in a single afternoon because one guy with a few cannons showed up.
But the King didn’t just give up. He sent envoys to London. Eventually, the British government realized Paulet had overstepped. They sent Rear Admiral Richard Thomas to fix the mess. On July 31, 1843—a day now celebrated as Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea (Sovereignty Restoration Day)—the Hawaiian flag was raised again at what is now Thomas Square in Honolulu.
That’s when Kamehameha III spoke the words: Ua mau ke ea o ka ʻāina i ka pono.
He wasn’t talking about "righteousness" in a Sunday school sense. He was talking about the restoration of sovereignty. In Hawaiian, Ea doesn't just mean "life" or "breath." It means sovereignty. Political independence. The right to exist as a nation. When the King said those words, he was telling the world that the legal standing of his country had been restored because it was the "pono" (right/just) thing to happen.
Why "Pono" is Such a Loaded Word
You’ve probably heard people use "pono" to mean "proper" or "balanced." It is one of those Hawaiian words that is basically impossible to translate with a single English equivalent. It’s a spectrum. It covers everything from morality and equity to correct procedure and actual physical balance.
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In the context of the motto, pono is the requirement for the ea (sovereignty) to exist.
If the people and the leaders aren't acting with justice, the land loses its breath. It’s a reciprocal relationship. In the Hawaiian worldview, the land isn't just a resource you own. It's an ancestor. The ʻāina (that which feeds) is a living entity. If you treat the land poorly, or if you rule with injustice, you are literally choking the life out of your nation.
It’s actually a pretty heavy warning.
The Modern Controversy: Can a State Use This Motto?
Here is where things get a bit uncomfortable for some. Hawaii became the 50th U.S. state in 1959. When the state government adopted Ua mau ke ea o ka ʻāina i ka pono as the official state motto, many Native Hawaiians felt it was a bit hypocritical.
Think about the irony.
The phrase was created to celebrate the return of independence from a foreign power. Now, it is used by a state government that many argue is the result of an illegal overthrow of that same kingdom in 1893. When you see the motto on a police car or a tax form, it hits differently than when Kamehameha III said it.
For many activists, the motto is a constant reminder of what was lost. They argue that the ea (sovereignty) cannot truly be "perpetuated" if the kingdom no longer exists as a political entity. This isn't just ancient history; it’s a living debate that affects everything from land use to water rights in Maui and Oahu today.
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Beyond the Postcard: Living the Motto
So, how do you actually "do" the motto? If you live in Hawaii or just visit, understanding this phrase changes how you look at the islands. It’s not just about picking up trash on the beach (though that is definitely pono). It’s about recognizing the historical layers of the place.
- Respect the Water: In Hawaii, water (wai) is wealth (waiwai). Acting with pono means protecting the watersheds.
- Know the History: Understanding that the 1893 overthrow was recognized as illegal by the U.S. government in the 1993 "Apology Resolution" (Public Law 103-150).
- Support Local Food Systems: Since ʻāina means "that which feeds," keeping the land productive and healthy is a direct way to keep the ea alive.
I’ve spent a lot of time talking to kupuna (elders) about this. One thing that always comes up is that the motto is a verb, not just a noun. It is an ongoing action. You don't just "achieve" pono and stop. You have to maintain it.
Real Examples of Ea in Action Today
We see this playing out in real-time. Look at the protests at Mauna Kea regarding the Thirty Meter Telescope. For the protectors (kiaʻi), stopping the construction wasn't just about science vs. religion. It was about ea. It was about the right of the people to have a say in what happens to their most sacred lands.
Or look at the restoration of traditional fishponds (loko iʻa) across the islands. By rebuilding the stone walls and restoring the natural flow of water, communities are quite literally bringing the "breath" back to the land. They are practicing the motto without needing to say it.
It’s also in the language. The Hawaiian language was once banned in schools. Today, immersion programs are thriving. When a child speaks Hawaiian, that is ea. It is the sovereignty of the mind and culture.
A Quick Breakdown of the Terms
If you want to sound like you actually know what you're talking about, keep these nuances in mind:
- Ua mau: Has been perpetuated or continued.
- Ke ea: The sovereignty, the breath, the life-force.
- O ka ʻāina: Of the land.
- I ka pono: Through/in justice or righteousness.
The "i" in the phrase is important. It implies that the sovereignty is dependent on the justice. No justice, no breath.
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Practical Ways to Honor the Sentiment
If you're looking to integrate the spirit of this motto into your life, start with your relationship to your own "land." Where do you live? Who were the original stewards of that place?
In Hawaii, the best way to be pono is to listen more than you speak. Learn the stories of the places you visit. Don't just take photos; understand the significance of the wahi pana (sacred places). Support businesses that actually give back to the community and the environment.
It’s easy to put a sticker on a bumper. It’s a lot harder to live in a way that ensures the "breath of the land" continues for the next seven generations.
Actionable Steps for the Conscious Resident or Traveler
- Educate yourself on the 1893 Overthrow. Read "Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen" by Queen Liliʻuokalani. It’s her firsthand account and it’s gut-wrenching.
- Volunteer for an ʻāina-based organization. Groups like Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo (KUA) do amazing work helping local communities manage their resources.
- Check your terminology. Use Hawaiian place names whenever possible. It’s a small way to respect the ea of the place.
- Support local farmers. When you buy local, you are keeping the land "that which feeds."
The motto isn't a museum piece. It’s a living, breathing challenge. Whether you see it as a patriotic state slogan or a revolutionary cry for independence, it demands that you look at your surroundings and ask: "Is this pono?"
If the answer is no, then the work isn't done. The ea is still waiting to be fully restored.
Next Steps for Deepening Your Understanding:
- Visit Thomas Square in Honolulu: Stand where the flag was raised in 1843 and read the plaques. It feels different when you're on the actual soil where it happened.
- Research the "Apology Resolution": Read the text of Public Law 103-150. It’s a wild piece of U.S. legislation where the government admits to the illegal acts of its predecessors.
- Engage with Native Hawaiian Media: Follow outlets like Civil Beat or Ka Wai Ola to see how the concepts of ea and pono are being applied to current legal and environmental battles.
This isn't just about Hawaii's past. It’s about the future of how we all relate to the places we call home. Keep the breath moving.