Ke Aliʻi Bernice Pauahi Bishop was just 11 years old when British Captain George Paulet seized control of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1843. Six months later, when ea was restored to her uncle, Kauikeaouli, Pauahi was a student at the newly established Chiefs’ Children’s School, an academy he founded to prepare the next generation of aliʻi.

Among her classmates were Emma Rooke, Alexander Liholiho, William Lunalilo, David Kalākaua, Lydia Kamakaʻeha, and Lot Kapuāiwa.

Many would go on to become ruling monarchs and leaders of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Pauahi herself would later be offered the throne twice and declined, recognizing she could serve her people and Hawaiʻi in a different way.

She excitedly captured the moment in her school journal, drawing the hae Hawaiʻi rising once again.

This collection begins there.

Across the artwork are layered references to moments of resistance and resilience throughout our history: Pauahi’s own words and symbols, Kūʻē signatures gathered across the pae ‘āina, the palapala that reflected Hawaiʻi’s recognition among the Family of Nations, her will, and the acts of imagination, care, conviction, and kuleana that continue to shape and sustain us today.

Following the formal restoration of our ea in 1843, Kauikeaouli proclaimed from Kawaiahaʻo Church, “Ua mau ke ea o ka ʻāina i ka pono,” affirming that ea endures through pono.

At the time, Pauahi had only recently begun writing in English, but her journal gives us a personal perspective of the momentous occasion and reminds us that ea lives in the everyday moments: in the classroom, in community, and in the choices we make to uplift our lāhui.

This collection reflects on the many ways our kūpuna restored, protected, and carried ea forward across generations.

Not only through grand gestures or historic moments, but in how we choose to show up for one another, care for our communities, and create conditions for what comes next.

What will we return? What will we restore? What will we carry forward?

E mau ke ea o ka ‘āina i ka pono.