Hawaii Holomua

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Hawaii Holomua was a newspaper published in Honolulu, Hawaii, from 1891 to 1895. It appeared in Hawaiian and English at first, with four editions: daily and weekly versions in Hawaiian, and daily and weekly versions in English.

The paper was founded on May 2, 1891, by Joseph Mokuʻōhai Poepoe, who served as its first editor. The name can be translated as “Hawaiian Progress” or “go-ahead Hawaii.” Poepoe hoped the paper would unite Native Hawaiians and avoid party loyalties.

In 1893 the Holomua Publishing Company bought the newspaper. After the purchase, an English-only edition called Hawaii Progress Holomua replaced the bilingual versions, with its first issue on September 18, 1893. It was published every weekday afternoon except Sundays and holidays. The paper’s motto was “The Life of the Land is Established in Righteousness.” By 1893 the total circulation for Hawaii Holomua and its editions was about 5,000.

Politically, Hawaii Holomua was a vocal supporter of the Hawaiian Kingdom. It opposed the Provisional Government that formed after the kingdom’s overthrow in 1893 and was the only Hawaii newspaper to publish Queen Liliʻuokalani’s protest against the overthrow and her appeal to U.S. President Grover Cleveland. The paper criticized the Provisional Government as illegitimate and urged a government “by the people and for the people.”

Editor changes occurred over the years: Poepoe later left the paper in 1892, and Kahikina Kelekona became editor; by 1893 G. Carson Kenyon was a co-editor.

The Hawaii Holomua also reported on events like the Koʻolau incident and criticized government spying on opponents, arguing that spies were unnecessary and harmful to civic life.

The newspaper ceased publication on January 5, 1895, the day after the Wilcox rebellion began, which aimed to restore the monarchy. In its final issue, Hawaii Holomua stated there was “the slightest reason for fear of uprisings,” a sentiment that stood in contrast to the turmoil of the time.