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Advocates push for more understanding, recognition of Native Hawaiian holidays

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Advocates push for more understanding, recognition of Native Hawaiian holidays


HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – As the holiday season approaches, many native Hawaiians and locals are making time to celebrate and learn about indigenous holidays often overlooked by Western culture.

La Kuokoa is celebrated to remember the Hawaiian Kingdom’s independence and those who fought hard and continue to fight against oppression.

Dr. Noelani GoodYear-Ka Opua, professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, believes indigenous holidays like La Kuokoa are purposely forgotten due to white supremacy and a power often utilized within western colonialism.

“So around the world, Thanksgiving is not a holiday that others celebrate. So similarly here in Hawaii, we didn’t celebrate Thanksgiving, we celebrated La Kuokoa. And so the replacement of La Kuokoa with Thanksgiving was part of the cultural kind of work and change that the white supremacist oligarchy was trying to engage in,” Ka Opua said.

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Ka Opua says reclaiming this holiday helps restore native Hawaiians’ identity, especially those who are coming back home or have been ashamed of their culture.

Kalawaia Nunies, a UH Manoa student who is native Hawaiian, believes there should be more funding for celebrations of Native Hawaiian holidays and indigenous activities.

“The University of Hawaii at Manoa established in their 2002 strategic plan that this place shall be deemed a Hawaiian place of learning, however, within the last 21 years now, I believe that the university hasn’t done a good job and it’s evident through their community outreach and what they have done to kanaka Hawaii,” Nunies said.

La Kuokoa is not an official state holiday that allows government employees to take time off from work, but Gov. Josh Green signed in April of this year a bill recognizing La Kuokoa every year on November 28th.

Wikuki Kengi, a visitor from Aotearoa, the indigenous name of New Zealand, believes holidays celebrating sovereignty should be celebrated nationally.

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“Independence is really what we call rangatiratanga which is your sovereignty and your chieftainship and your Tapu and Mana which is really about having total authority,” Kengi said.

For Ka Opua, she says in past years there’ve been an increase in celebrations and people celebrating kanaka holidays, especially for keiki exploring their heritage.

“My kids at school, they’re printing shirts and having their own kind of celebrations. Actually now even at Kamehameha, it’s an official holiday on the school calendar so they have the day off,” Ka Opua said.

La Hoihoi Ea is the sister holiday of La Kuokoa which celebrates the restoration of Hawaiian sovereignty and the Hawaiian Kingdom, which is celebrated on July 4th.

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Hawaii

Hawaii surfer Landon McNamara wins the 2024 Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational

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Hawaii surfer Landon McNamara wins the 2024 Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational


WAIMEA BAY (HawaiiNewsNow) – It’s official: Landon McNamara has won the 2024 Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational.

He received 135.8 points as well as the highest-scoring wave of the competition — a perfect score of 15 — which earned him the Best Wave Award.

“This is a childhood dream of mine, something I’ve been working at since being a little kid on the beach here, watching these events go down,” he said. “I don’t know what to feel right now. I’ve already cried 10 times.

“I’m grateful to Eddie,” McNamara said. “Both my heats, I had a turtle I was following. For real. … They say Eddie picks the winner, and I’m so grateful he picked me.”

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The accomplishment is even more fitting considering his father, Liam McNamara, is the contest director.

The top nine finishers were:

  1. Landon McNamara (HI, 2024 WINNER)
  2. Mason Ho (HI)
  3. Billy Kemper (HI)
  4. Jamie O’Brien (HI)
  5. Nic Lamb (CA)
  6. Luke Shepardson (HI, 2023 WINNER)
  7. Nathan Florence (HI)
  8. Kai Lenny (HI)
  9. Koa Rothman (HI)

Competitor Greg Long received the Aloha Spirit Award. “Participating in this event has been the greatest honor and privilege of my life,” he said.

THE EDDIE IS ON: View our complete coverage

Tens of thousands of people gathered on Oahu’s North Shore to witness the historic event Sunday.

Waves were 50 feet in face height, according to Liam McNamara.

“The conditions are amazing. There’s a strong offshore breeze right now,” McNamara told Hawaii News Now early Sunday morning. “We’re looking for an amazing day of competition. This is a historic day. We want to make sure we start it with a bang and we end with a bang.”

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This is the 11th time “The Eddie” has run in the last 40 years, and participation is by invitation only.

Previous Coverage:
For more information:
  • Rip Curl The Eddie Big Wave Invitational
  • TheEddieAikau.com



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Hawaii surfing competition 'The Eddie' braces for 50-foot waves Sunday | Latest Weather Clips | FOX Weather

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Hawaii surfing competition 'The Eddie' braces for 50-foot waves Sunday | Latest Weather Clips | FOX Weather


Hawaii surfing competition ‘The Eddie’ braces for 50-foot waves Sunday

The forecast for massive 50-foot waves in Hawaii prompted the organizers of The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational, the premier surfing event in the world, to schedule the event for Sunday. “The Eddie” competition requires consistent 40-foot or higher surf. If Sunday’s event goes on as planned, it’ll be only the 11th time it has happened since 1984.



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This Popular Hawaii Resort Has A New 3-Story Penthouse And Renovated Pools With Local Amenities

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This Popular Hawaii Resort Has A New 3-Story Penthouse And Renovated Pools With Local Amenities


When it comes to Waikiki’s luxury hotels, the Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach, is one of the most beloved properties for frequent visitors to this popular corner of Hawaii. With all its spacious rooms boasting balconies with ocean views and kitchens to ensure a comfortable stay no matter how long your trip may be, it’s a true home away from home, with the added magic that comes with the brand’s phenomenal customer service. To make things better, the resort recently unveiled a collection of new suites and reimagined pools, providing guests an even more elevated experience than before.

Dubbed the Sky Suites, these sumptuous, multi-bedroom accommodations have become the pinnacle of luxury living in Waikiki. Encased in floor-to-ceiling windows, delivering sweeping panoramas of the neighborhood’s namesake beach and the beautiful blue Pacific at every turn, the vistas alone are worth every penny. But once you add in the modern furnishings, full kitchens with Miele appliances, the formal dining spaces, and pristine white marble bathrooms, you’ll never want to look back. To top it all off, they also come with exclusive perks, including roundtrip airport transfers, a dedicated VIP concierge, and a pre-stocked refrigerator with preferred beverages and snacks.

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Guests have the option between three- or four-bedroom Sky Suites. The former is a coveted corner unit that features what is arguably the resort’s best view of Diamond Head, along with a sleek, marble kitchen island that’s great for entertaining. The latter is the property’s largest, spanning nearly 3,000 square feet across two floors, and is the only four-bedroom suite in all of Waikiki. It also sports the resort’s biggest kitchen, making it particularly great for private chef dinners, and the double-height living room allows for plenty of natural light to filter in.

But the Ritz-Carlton’s crowning jewel, quite literally, is the Sky Penthouse. Occupying the top floors of the resort’s Diamond Head Tower, this three-story, two-bedroom suite soars 350 feet above Waikiki. The first level houses the living spaces, a kitchen with a wine fridge, one bedroom, and a small media room that also doubles as a great private reading nook. The second floor is entirely dedicated to the master bedroom, but it’s the rooftop that’s the real selling point. Touting one of the neighborhood’s highest infinity plunge pools, the furnished deck also features a hot tub and grill, and is particularly ideal for sundowners.

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You won’t need to book the Sky Penthouse for an incredible pool experience, though. The property offers its guests two infinity pools, one of which is an adults-only oasis. Both offer private cabanas, with the options at the family-friendly pool being larger, that come with a mini refrigerator stocked with local beverages and snacks. All guests can also expect a variety of thoughtful pool amenities, including sunscreen service and hourly snacks that pay homage to local favorites, like fresh pineapple dipped in li hing mui. The resort’s popular daily afternoon ritual of complimentary ice cream and sorbet is still available, and now includes an adult version with the addition of sparkling wine float. Quite frankly, there’s enough to keep you at the pool that you may never want to leave.



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