Keli’i Akina and Michael Lilly Talk about “250 Years of America’s Defining Principles"

Reflections on a career of serving America and Hawaii

TALK STORY WITH KELI'I AKINA, TUESDAY, 7/7/26

The principles of the Declaration of Independence — liberty, equal justice, and government by consent — remain the best guide for ethics, law, and patriotism in Hawaii and America 250 years later.

As America reaches its 250th birthday, what do the Declaration of Independence and Constitution mean for Hawaii today? Former Hawaii Attorney General Michael Lilly has spent his career in uniform, in the courtroom, and in government — always guided by patriotism and the rule of law. From military service to the AG’s office to battles over civil rights and ethics, he’s defended the American values of liberty, equal justice, and accountable government. Join us as he reflects on his service, the high-profile cases that tested those principles, and why the ideals of 1776 still matter for Hawaii and the nation at our Semiquincentennial.