Hawaii Thomas Square

in february 1843 lord george paulet on hms carysfort seized , occupied kingdom of hawaii during paulet affair.

on july 26 admiral richard darton thomas sailed honolulu harbor on flagship hms dublin. became local representative of british commission out-ranking paulet. intention end occupation. on july 31, held hawaiian flag in hands officially transferred islands king kamehameha iii said words ua mau ke ea o ka ʻĀina ka pono in speech during ceremony mark restoration. translated hawaiian language means sovereignty of land perpetuated in righteousness , has become state motto of hawaii, incorporated seal of hawaii. british flag set pulled down , hawaiian flag raised, followed series of 21 gun salutes fort, british ships carysfort, dublin, hazzard, american ship constellation, , lastly guns @ park.

kamehameha iii later named place ceremony held in downtown honolulu 21°18′9″n 157°50′56″w / 21.30250°n 157.84889°w / 21.30250; -157.84889 thomas square in admiral thomas s honor , dedicated public park.

after privy council demarcated thomas square s enlargement on march 8, 1850, park still merely dusty field. cheap fence installed around 1873. oats sown , harvested , algaroba (kiawe) trees planted after 1873, there still little shade @ park. around time merchant archibald scott cleghorn (husband of princess miriam likelike, father of princess kaʻiulani, , brother-in-law of kalākaua , liliuokalani) began stewarding thomas square , emma square (the 2 parks in honolulu @ point). 1883, cleghorn had approved robert stirling s park design laid out series of circles , semi-circles paths. since honolulu s treasury in dire condition @ time, cleghorn brought banyan trees ʻĀinahau, waikiki estate, plant , create more shade. asked friends money design , build bandstand, seating, , add more planting. within several years, bandstand designed , installed mr. f. wilhelm while more shrubs , trees planted. improved park celebrated successful grand opening on april 7, 1887 royal hawaiian band performed huge crowd.

in 1925 made park managed city , county of honolulu.

in 1930s, parks boards commissioned , adopted renovation landscape plan catherine j. richards , robert o. thompson. renovation included mock orange hedge along curbs, flower beds bisecting central walkway, , terraces , coral wall parallel beretania street. during renovation period in 1932 outdoor circle donated central memorial fountain, dedicating late beatrice castle newcomb, had been president of outdoor circle 1922 1929.

in 1938, daughters of hawaii unveiled plaque commemorate historic flag-raising event.

in 1942, army built barracks @ thomas square quarter troops during world war ii. received $50,000 in 1966 renovation included expanded comfort station, new coral walkway beretania street, , tree-pruning thin out canopies allow more light , air.

it added national register of historic places listings in oahu on april 25, 1972. state historic site 80-14-9990.

beginning in 2011, northern side of thomas square became encampment site (de)occupy honolulu, hawaiʻi affiliate of occupy movement. such, regular protests , police conflicts have become feature of area.

july 31 celebrated lā ho iho ea or restoration day holiday. pathways in park shaped in form of british flag. fountain in center of square, surrounded trees. across street honolulu museum of art.