Celebrations continue this weekend and next week to honor Kauai’s native son, Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole, during the month of his birthday. Raised in Koloa in the late 1800s, Kuhio was a prince when the Kingdom of Hawaii was overthrown
Celebrations continue this weekend and next week to honor Kauai’s native son, Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole, during the month of his birthday. Raised in Koloa in the late 1800s, Kuhio was a prince when the Kingdom of Hawaii was overthrown in 1893.
As always each year for the past 15 years, all the stops have been pulled out to pay tribute to the royal monarch.
Saturday morning, members of the Royal Order of Kamehameha will honor Prince Kuhio with hookupu (gifts), hula dancing and chanting at 10 a.m. at the Prince Kuhio Park. The public is invited to the free event, where they can experience Native Hawaiian traditional cultural practices.
“I admire Prince Kuhio because he lived during a time of turmoil,” said Peter Kea, the Aliiaimoku of the Chapter 3 Royal Order. “He saw that he would not be able to restore Hawaii to what it had been and focused the rest of his life on preserving the Hawaiian culture.”
Aunty Stella Burgess, who passed away in February, lived her life passing along traditions of the Hawaiian culture.
“We are dedicating this year’s festival to Aunty Stella,” said Carla Thomas, coordinator of the Prince Kuhio celebration and human resources director at the Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa in Poipu, where many of the activities are being held.
A new event was added on Wednesday. It will be at the Kauai Museum from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and will feature stories and songs performed by Hawaiian civic clubs.
Thomas is pleased with the turnout of the celebration, which began on March 15 and will run through March 29.
“I know it will go well because Aunty Stella is watching us,” Thomas said.
Prince Kuhio Celebration events:
Today
• 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. — Prince Kuhio Celebration: Cultural Demonstrations at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa — Hear about many Native Hawaiian cultural and art practices.
Saturday
• 8 a.m. — Prince Kuhio Celebration: 43rd Annual Long Distance Canoe Race — the Men’s Division will paddle from Kalapaki Beach to just outside Kukuiula Harbor. At 10:30 a.m., the Women’s teams will paddle from just outside of Kukuiula Harbor to Salt Pond Park.
• 10 a.m. — Prince Kuhio Commemorative Ceremonies with the Royal Order of Kamehameha at Prince Kuhio Park — Observe the protocol of honoring Prince Kuhio’s birthday with hookupu (gifts), hula (dance), and oli (chant).
• 7 p.m. — Torchlighting Ceremony at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa — Hawaiian music duo and keiki (children’s) hula.
• 8:15 p.m. Prince Kuhio Celebration: Ledward Kaapana and Mike Kaawa Concert at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa — Hear the slack key guitarists who are considered masters of Hawaiian music.
Sunday
• 8:30 to 9 a.m. — Opening Protocol and Taiko Drumming at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa.
• 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Cultural demonstrations and crafts at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa.
