Poet Laureate of Hawaii

The Poet Laureate of Hawaii or Ka Haku-Mele O Hawaii is the poet laureate for the U.S. state of Hawaii. Prior to statehood Don Blanding, originally from Oklahoma, was unofficially referred to as the poet laureate of Hawaii. In 1951 Hawaii Territorial Senator Thelma Akana Harrison in concurrent resolution 28, declared Lloyd Stone, who was originally from California, poet laureate. When the modern program was established, Native Hawaiian Kealoha was appointed on May 3, 2012, and he is the first poet laureate for the state of Hawaii, serving through 2022. In January 2023, Brandy Nālani McDougall began her appointment as Poet Laureate of Hawaii, which she will serve through 2025.