Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana’ole was the last of Kaua’i’s great ali’i. Born in an era of turmoil and change he was destined to play an important role shaping the destiny of Hawai’i and her people. Born in a grass hut
Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana’ole was the last of Kaua’i’s great ali’i.
Born
in an era of turmoil and change he was destined to play an important role
shaping the destiny of Hawai’i and her people.
Born in a grass hut in Koloa
in 1871, he was the son of the high chief of Kaua’i, D. Kahalepouli and
Princess Kekaulike. He was a cousin of King Kalakaua and Queen
Liliuokalani.
Fluent in Hawaiian, English and French. He was well-educated
and well-traveled. He attended St. Mathews College in California and the Royal
Agricultural College in England. He returned to Hawai’i shortly before the
overthrow of the monarch, and at the age of 24, Prince Kuhio helped in the
Royalist uprising against Hawai’i’s new Republic during the first week of
January, 1895.
As a leader of the ill-fated attempt to overthrow the
Republic of Hawai’i that was to restore Queen Liliuokalani to the throne, he
and other Hawaiian leaders were arrested as political prisoners and sentenced
to a year in prison. After this, Kuhio felt he had proved and registered his
loyalty, but he was also determined to make his voice heard on behalf of the
Hawaiians in the political process.
In 1902, he was elected as a Republican
candidate to the U.S. Congress and would serve with honor and distinction for
10 consecutive terms (20 years).
As a Congressional delegate he fought to
obtain legislation for the passage of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act in
1919. His vision was to provide homestead lands for native Hawaiians at little
or no cost.
A legacy of his political foresight lives on today in Hoolehua,
Waimanalo, Kekaha, Panaewa and other Hawaiian Homeland communities.
A
lesser known fact is that Kuhio introduced the first bill asking that Hawai’i
be admitted to the Union as a state in 1919.
Kuhio understood that forces
beyond his control would continue to influence the way important decisions
would be made for the people of Hawai’i. He was equally determined not to let
others dictate Hawai’i’s future without a Hawaiian voice.
His other
accomplishments include establishing the Kalaupapa Leper Colony, National
Legislation to benefit sugar, shipping and commerce industries, and the
expansion of the National Park Service to include Hawai’i. He also tried to
bring economic benefits to Hawai’i including development of Pearl Harbor and
Honolulu Harbor and regular mail delivery to Hawai’i.
Prince Kuhio founded
the Hawaiian Civic Clubs and the Royal Order of Kamehameha as a means of
encouraging his people to take an active role in Hawai’i’s civic affairs and to
provide leadership in the preservation of Hawaiian culture, language and
music.
He was a man who loved his “aina,” fought for his people, and never
lost track of his roots. “Ke Ali’i Makaaiana,” the Citizen Prince is what he
was lovingly called.
A vigorous champion of his people, Prince Kuhio died
at the age of 50. He had served nearly 20 years with Congress and during that
time took every opportunity to impress upon his people the doctrines of
Americanism and the good fortune Hawaiians shared in being United States
citizens.
At his death no less than a dozen members of the U.S. House of
Representatives delivered addresses in his memory.
His birthday, March 26,
was made a Territorial holiday by the Hawaiian Legislature in 1949. When
Hawai’i achieved statehood in 1959, 40 years after Prince Kuhio introduced the
first statehood bill, the islands honored him by making Kuhio Day a state
holiday as well.
On Kaua’i, special homage is paid to Kuhio, the “Citizen
Prince” during the Prince Kuhio Festival, celebrated in March every year.