Concert in the Sky anchors Kauai’s July Fourth mix of celebration and care | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Kauai is marking America250 with events that highlight the island’s layered history — from early Native Hawaiian stewardship to Western contact, plantation‑era immigration and modern military ties — as residents navigate mixed feelings about July Fourth.

The commemorations blend patriotic traditions with reflections on sovereignty, cultural identity and community care. Local leaders say the milestone offers a chance to honor Kauai’s diverse people, even as some residents view Independence Day as a reminder of loss.

One of Kauai’s largest America250 events — the annual Concert in the Sky — reflects the blend of celebration and community care. The July Fourth show, headlined by Grammy‑nominated reggae band The Green, doubles as a major fundraiser for Kaua‘i Hospice, which has provided palliative care and grief support on the island for more than 40 years.

The “friend‑raiser,” as the hospice calls it, was founded 33 years ago to bring families together during a holiday that carries different meanings across the community.

Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami said the summer concert and other observances provide a moment to reflect on shared American history and the people who helped shape the country.

“America is defined by its people, and it is the diversity of cultures, traditions, and lived experiences that continues to make our nation unique and worth celebrating,” Kawakami said in a statement.

“Here on Kauai, we are especially proud of our diverse community, where many backgrounds and histories come together to shape the fabric of island life,” he said. “That diversity is a reflection of what makes America, America.”

The range of sentiment is rooted in the island’s long record, much of which is documented in the Kaua‘i Historical Society’s account of Kauai’s past. The organization preserves the island’s history as Hawaii’s oldest major island, from early Native Hawaiians tending taro to the Kauai residents of today.

According to the Society’s history, Kauai was Hawaii’s first point of sustained Western contact and saw major cultural change with the arrival of American Protestant missionaries Samuel Whitney and Mercy Partridge Whitney. The island later became a center of sugar and pineapple production, drawing waves of immigrant labor and expanding American economic influence.

The Society also notes Kauai’s connection to Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana‘ole — grandson of the island’s last ruling chief, Kaumuali‘i — who was imprisoned for a year and witnessed the overthrow of Queen Lili‘uokalani.

The Society’s record further traces Kauai’s modern military ties to the Pacific Missile Range Facility — originally named Mana Airport before the attack on Pearl Harbor — which has played a vital role in U.S. defense strategy, missile testing and underwater warfare development since World War II.

The Society also documents mid‑century community life, including a March 1959 gathering of about 10,000 people at Burns Field, where residents held a bonfire to celebrate Hawaii’s admission to the union months before Hurricane Dot struck.

Today, Independence Day remains complicated for many. Although many on Kauai will wave the American flag on July Fourth as a symbol of freedom from one monarchy, others will mourn the overthrow of another.

For Native Hawaiian community organizer Megan Wong and her ohana, American Independence Day is a time to reflect.

“It is a reminder of the loss of our nation’s independence. To many of us, it feels like a celebration of our dispossession taking place in our own country… Our kuleana is to Hawaii, to our people, and to ensuring our keiki know exactly who they are and where they come from,” Wong said in a text message to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

Even with those mixed feelings, July Fourth remains a day when many on Kauai come together — including at the Concert in the Sky, which supports Kaua‘i Hospice’s work with families across the island.

“We’ve proudly celebrated this along (with) our veterans and extended families, (who are) enjoying this very festive moment,” said Tricia Yamashita, executive director of Kaua‘i Hospice.

“When you ask most people where they would want to spend their last day of life, it’s usually in their home setting or in a special place to them,” said Yamashita. “It’s not in a hospital surrounded by a bunch of machines.”

The hospice also helps grant final wishes such as watching one last sunset over the ocean — even when physical limitations make such moments seem impossible.

It provides families with tools for a graceful transition, including a 24/7 nurse line to ease the stresses of post-death coordination.

“We help caregivers to deliver care and do things they never thought they could do,” she said.

Every ticket purchased will support costly and time-intensive hospice care for patients and their families. Attendees can also support local crafters, small business food vendors and other local nonprofits. Visit kauaihospice.org for more event information and to donate directly to Kaua‘i Hospice.

“We’re dependent on each other on this Independence Day,” Yamashita said.