On Wednesday, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi hosted several prominent Black Americans who live on Oahu at the Mission Memorial Auditorium and declared February as Black History Month in the City and County of Honolulu, according to a news release. 

“Our vibrant communities on Oahu thrive because we celebrate what makes us unique, we embrace each other, and we lift one another up,” said Mayor Rick Blangiardi. “In the spirit of Black History Month, we are tremendously proud to acknowledge all of the Black Americans that have played such a crucial role in defining who we are as a people and as an island, and we are forever grateful for their contributions and leadership.”

The keynote speaker at the event was Camille A. Nelson, Dean of the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa.

“Let us realize that history lives in each of us and in our communities,” said Nelson. “We can be an exemplar that can amplify the lessons of Black History Month every single day of the year. We can co-create a society deeply rooted in aloha, a commitment to justice, and a dedication to the flourishing and uplift of all of our community members.”

Rev. Dr. Gregory C. Carrow-Boyd, Director of Worship and Religious Education, First Unitarian Church of Honolulu, and Alphonso Braggs, NAACP National Assistant Secretary, also spoke at the event about the Black experience of living in Hawaii and the ongoing impact of Black Americans throughout Hawaii’s history and into the present. 

Also, to celebrate Black History Month, Honolulu Hale was illuminated in navy blue and yellow — the colors of the NAACP — from sunset on Feb. 11 to sunrise on Feb. 12.