109. Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea 2026: Honoring 50 Years of the Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana

Each year, the Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea celebration at Thomas Square in Honolulu honors two aloha ʻāina. This year, uplifting the 50th anniversary of the Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana (PKO), the two honorees are James Kimo Mitchell and George Jarrett Helm, Jr. In this episode, PKO members Dr. Davianna Pōmaikaʻi McGregor and Dr. Kaliko Baker share the history of PKO’s organizing to end the bombing of Kahoʻolawe, the story of Kimo and George’s sacrifice to the movement, and the ongoing restoration work of the ʻOhana. For information about upcoming 50th anniversary events, check out PKO's Instagram @kahoolawe. For details about this year's Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea celebration at Thomas Square, go to lahoihoiea.org. And to learn more about this holiday and its history, listen to our conversation with organizers from 2022 here as well as on-the-ground conversations from 2022 celebrations at Thomas Square and Pōkaʻi Bay here. Tags: Hawaiʻi, Hawai'i, Hawaii