HONOLULU (KHON2) — Senate Bill 1051, which officially designates September as Hawaiian History Month, was signed into law by Gov. Josh Green.
The Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs celebrates the signing, saying that the measure honors the legacy of Queen Liliʻuokalani and recognizes the contributions of Kānaka Maoli to the islands’ past, present and future.
“This recognition is long overdue,” said Dre Kalili, president of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs. “Introducing and advocating for legislation like this is exactly what Prince Kūhiō envisioned when he founded the Hawaiian Civic Club movement in 1918. Our organization was created to elevate the voices of Native Hawaiians in government, education and society.”
Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole was the lead sponsor of Senate Bill 1051.
“By designating September as Hawaiian History month, the state affirms our collective responsibility to tell the full story of Hawaiʻi — rooted in Native Hawaiian leadership, resilience and cultural excellence,” Keohokalole said.
The signing comes after a 2019 resolution from the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs’ Maui convention to call on the state government to designate the month of September as Hawaiian History Month.
“Securing Hawaiian History Month is not just a symbolic act — it’s the continuation of a kuleana we’ve carried for more than a century.”