Lā Kūʻokoʻa is a kingdom holiday that was first celebrated in 1843 to commemorate Hawaiʻi’s sovereignty and independence. That was the year when the United States, Britain, and France officially recognized Hawaiian independence due to the efforts of the kingdom’s first diplomat Timoteo Haʻalilio and his associate Williiam Richards. Though Haʻalilio passed away on the return voyage to Hawaiʻi, they were successful in their mission, and the independence of Hawaiʻi was celebrated for the next five decades.