Full Breakdown
Hawaii Exhibit Shows Rare Photos of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Wearing Hawaiian Lei
7/1/2026, 4:55:44 AM
Historic Exhibit Unveiled in Honolulu
On June 30 2026 the Hawaii State Capitol opened a photo exhibit of rare images of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. wearing Hawaiian lei during the Selma march. The pictures, taken by civil-rights photographer Matt Herron, were donated by his widow to the Department of Accounting and General Services. The display runs through July 7, 2026.
Selma March and Hawaii’s Role
The Selma marches in March 1965, sparked by the “Bloody Sunday” attack on March 7, led to the Voting Rights Act of 1965. A Hawaiian delegation arrived with dozens of lei for Dr. King. King was photographed wearing the lei on March 21, two weeks after Bloody Sunday, at Brown Chapel AME in Selma.
Delegates and Their Roles
Five Hawaiians joined the march: Charles Campbell, a high-school teacher and civil-rights leader; Nona Ferdon, a graduate student who traveled with her children; Tomi Knaefler, a Honolulu Star-Bulletin reporter; and two others. They wore lei on the first day of the 50-mile (80.46 km) march, using plumeria from Kawaiaha‘o Church.
Timeline of Key Dates
- March 7 1965: Bloody Sunday on the Edmund Pettus Bridge.
- March 20 1965: Charles Campbell warned Selma could become “a real sore.”
- March 21 1965: Dr. King photographed with lei.
- June 30–July 7 2026: Exhibit runs in Honolulu.
Official Statements
State comptroller Keith Regan, acting governor, said the Hawaiian participants “traveled thousands of miles to be part of the civil-rights movement and to show aloha to the world, standing hand-in-hand with our fellow brothers and sisters for equality and justice.” The exhibit reminds viewers of Hawaii’s historic contribution to the national fight for voting rights.
Personal Reflections
Steven Springel recalled his mother’s Selma trip taught him that “we never experienced segregation or racial inequality,” while Pamela MacDonald said her mother’s participation “is the one that she holds dearest to her heart.”
Conflicting Reports
Earlier reports listed the Hawaiian delegation as four members; later corrections confirm five participants. No source identifies the two unnamed delegates.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Selma has the capability of becoming a real sore that could affect the entire nation.” — Charles Campbell, teacher and civil-rights organizer
- “we never experienced segregation or racial inequality,” — Steven Springel, son of Nona Ferdon
- “to be a part of the Civil Rights movement, to show ‘aloha’ to the world that Hawaii was there holding hands with our fellow brothers and sisters to ensure equality and justice were heard throughout the nation,” — Keith Regan, state comptroller, acting governor
- “the one that she holds dearest to her heart.” — Pamela MacDonald, daughter of Tomi Knaefler
Future Implications
The exhibit opens as the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2026 term ends with a ruling that weakened the remaining provisions of the Voting Rights Act, reviving concerns about voter suppression and gerrymandering. Hawaii’s display underscores the lasting relevance of civil-rights solidarity and may inspire further educational programs about the state’s role in national movements.
