WAILUKU, Hawaii — Maui County will celebrate Ukraine Solidarity Day on Wednesday with a proclamation from Mayor Michael Victorino, a ceremonial flag raising and the illumination of the Kalana O Maui Building in the colors of Ukraine.

The public is invited to attend a brief ceremony near the flagpole at the Kalani O Maui Building (200 S. High Street) starting at 8 a.m., when Victorino will read from the proclamation before presenting it to members of Maui’s Ukrainian community.

“Many Maui Nui residents want to express their solidarity with the people of Ukraine,” explained Mayor Victorino. “Maui County residents join the rest of the world by demonstrating our support too. I invite those who can’t join in person, to join us in spirit with your prayers of aloha for the brave Ukrainian people.”

The Ukrainian flag will fly in front of the building throughout the day. In the evening, the building will be lit in blue and yellow.

Members of the Ukrainian community on Maui gathered on Saturday, Feb. 26 to show their support for Ukraine. They held signs showing their support and calling for peace. 

Katja Krivoruchko, who is of Ukrainian descent, but was born and raised in Belarus, was at Saturday's event.

"While my heart is breaking and I am crying for the country I have lots of happy childhood memories in. This is nothing compared to what my friends here on Maui, with parents or siblings in Ukraine, are experiencing. I'd like to thank the people of Hawaii for checking in on us, for supporting us and for showing us aloha in this time. We so appreciate seeing the yellow and blue everywhere. This really helps us feel less alone," said Krivoruchko.

Ukrainians have a long but largely overlooked history in Hawaii.

According to historians Vic Satzewich, Peter Young and Orest Subtelny in separate publications, Ukrainians were among the early ethnic groups recruited to work on Hawaii sugar plantations as indentured laborers. An initial group of about 600 came between 1897 and 1900. Another group of several hundred Ukrainians living in Manchuria came between 1909 and 1910.