Thomas Square, Historical park in central Honolulu, United States
Thomas Square is a park in Honolulu whose paths are laid out in the form of the British flag, with a fountain at the center surrounded by trees. Banyan trees brought from ʻĀinahau by Archibald Scott Cleghorn provide shade, and a 12-foot bronze sculpture of Kamehameha III stands near a flagpole flying the Hawaiian flag.
The square marks the place where Admiral Richard Thomas restored Hawaiian sovereignty in 1843 after five months of British occupation. This pivotal moment shapes its historical importance to the island community today.
The square holds special meaning for Hawaii as one of four places where the Hawaiian flag flies independently without the United States flag. This makes it a symbol of sovereignty and local pride for residents and visitors alike.
Thomas Square lies along South Beretania Street at Ward Avenue, with the Honolulu Museum of Art across the street. Its circular and semicircular paths, laid out in the pattern of the British flag, let visitors cross the grounds on foot; the central fountain and surrounding trees mark the middle of the square.
The park's pathways follow a pattern inspired by the British flag design, a subtle reminder of the occupation period. A bronze statue of King Kamehameha III stands with his arm raised in the center, serving as a focal point.
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