Prince Kuhio defends his honor

It was reported in the April 13, 1901, edition of Honolulu’s “The Pacific Commercial Advertiser” that Kauai-born Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole (1871-1922) fought to uphold his honor after being insulted on two occasions while on a world tour with Princess Kalanianaole during 1901.

In Montreal, Canada, Kuhio stayed at the finest hotel, and was sitting in its barber shop one day to have his hair cut, when an American tourist entered, looked around, and in referring to Prince Kuhio, exclaimed that he couldn’t see why “colored” persons were permitted in a first-class hotel.

Prince Kuhio didn’t react just then, but when the barber said “next” and the American stepped forward ahead of Kuhio and declared that “I certainly take precedence over an (N word),” Kuhio responded by jerking the tourist out of the barber’s chair, throwing him to the floor and punching him in the face.

The hotel manager heard the commotion and rushed over to explain to the dazed American that it was “His Royal Highness Prince Kalanianaole” whom he’d offended and who’d given him a good licking.

“I didn’t know, Your Highness. I got all I deserved. Will you honor me by joining me for a drink?” asked the American, but there’s no record of Kuhio accepting his invitation.

And, in Geneva, Switzerland, Kuhio was sipping a glass of beer in a cafe, when five university students entered and took a table near him.

Then one of them — Count von Furstenheim — demanded in broken English that the waiter throw out that “black man,” whereupon Kuhio promptly got up, pulled von Furstenheim’s nose, swung him around and kicked him.

When von Furstenheim and company then proceeded to gang up on Kuhio, he acted accordingly with a left uppercut to one of them, a right uppercut to another, and a flurry of punches that knocked all five to the ground.

Kuhio was arrested and paid a fine of 2,000 marks ($500) before resuming his grand tour with Princess Kalanianaole.