Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole
Prince of Hawaiʻi
Spouse	Elizabeth Kahanu Kaʻauwai
Full name
Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole Piʻikoi
House	House of Kalākaua
Father	David Kahalepouli Piʻikoi King Kalākaua (hānai)
Mother	Victoria Kekaulike Kinoiki Queen Kapiʻolani (hānai)
Born	March 26, 1871 Kōloa, Kauaʻi
Died	January 7, 1922 (aged 50) Waikīkī, Oʻahu
Burial	January 15, 1922[1] Mauna ʻAla Royal Mausoleum
Signature

Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole Piʻikoi (1871–1922) was a prince of the reigningHouse of Kalākaua when the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi was overthrown by international businessmen in 1893. He later went on to become a politician in the Territory of Hawaii as delegate to the United States Congress, and as such is the first native Hawaiian and only person ever elected to that body who was born a royal.^[2]

[edit]Early life

The young Kūhiō

As prince of Hawaii

Kalanianaʻole was born March 26, 1871 in Kōloa on the island ofKauaʻi.^[3] Like many aliʻi (Hawaiian nobility) his genealogy was complex, but he was an heir of Kaumualiʻi, the last ruling chief of Kauaʻi. His was named after his grandfather Kūhiō Kalanianaʻolea High Chief of Hilo, and his paternal grandfather Jonah PiʻikoiHigh Chief of Kauaʻi. Like many Hawaiian nobles in the nineteenth-century he attended the exclusive private Royal School and Punahou School in Honolulu on the island of Oʻahu. In the 1870s, a French school teacher at St. Alban's College, now ʻIolani School, commented on how young Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole's eyes twinkled merrily and how he kept a perpetual smile. "He is so cute, just like the pictures of the littlecupid," teacher Pierre Jones said. The nickname, "Prince Cupid," stuck with Prince Kūhiō for the rest of his life.^[4] After completing his basic education he also traveled abroad for further study. He studied for four years at Saint Matthew's School, a privateEpiscopal military school in San Mateo, California,^[5] and at the Royal Agricultural College in England before graduating from a business school in England. He was described as being an excellent marksman and athlete at sports such as football and bicycling.^[6]:57-59

[edit]Prince of the Kalākaua Dynasty

After the rule of the House of Kamehameha ended with the death of King Kamehameha V in 1872, and KingLunalilo died in 1874, the House of Kalākaua ascended to the throne of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi. He became an orphan after his father died in 1880 and mother in 1884. Kalanianaʻole was adopted by King David Kalākaua's wife, Queen Kapiʻolani, who was his maternal aunt. This practice was called hānai, a traditional form of adoption widely used in ancient Hawaii which made Kalanianaʻole a royal prince. When Kalākaua came to power Kalanianaʻole was appointed to the royal Cabinet administering the Department of the Interior. After Kalākaua's death in 1891, Liliʻuokalani became queen, and she continued to favour Kalanianaʻole.

However, in 1893 the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii put in power first a Provisional Government of Hawaii, and then a republic with no role for monarchs. Liliʻuokalani continued to hope she could be restored to the throne, while American businessmen lobbied for annexation.

[edit]Post-Overthrow Activities

Kuhio in prison

In 1895, at the age of twenty four,^[7] he participated in a rebellion against the Republic of Hawaiʻi. The rebels proved no match for the Republic troops and police, and shortly after hostilities began, all those involved in the rebellion were routed and captured. Kūhiō was sentenced to a year in prison while others were charged with treason and sentenced with execution. Death sentences were commuted to imprisonment. Kūhiō served his full term. Daily visits of his fiancee, Elizabeth Kahanu Kaʻauwai encouraged him in his most dark times. They married October 8, 1896.

In 1898, the United States of America annexed Hawaii and the Territory of Hawaii was formed. After her own heir apparent, Princess Victoria Kaʻiulani, died at the age of 23 in 1899, Liliʻuokalani made Kalanianaʻole and his brother Prince David Kawānanakoa (1868–1908) heirs to the throne. His other older brother Prince Edward Keliʻiahonui had died in 1887.

Kūhiō and his wife left Hawaiʻi upon his release and traveled widely in Europe, where they were treated as visiting royalty. He traveled to Africa from 1899 to 1902 where he joined the British Army to fight in the Second Boer War.^[8]

[edit]From prince to American statesman

As a Congressional Delegate

Kūhiō eventually returned from his self-imposed exile to take part in politics^[7] in post-annexation Hawaiʻi. He became active in the Home Rule Party of Hawaii, which represented native Hawaiians and continued to fight for Hawaiian independence. A much smaller Democratic party, led by his brother David Kawānanakoa, was less radical and also less powerful. The Republicans represented business interests including people who had originally overthrown the Monarchy.

In 1901 Kūhiō switched parties and joined the Republicans. He was disillusioned with the lack of progress made by the Home Rule Party, and its control by "radicals". The Republicans eagerly accepted him into the fold. By endorsing the heir to the throne of the Hawaiian kingdom they gained significant support in local communities, and Kūhiō was given a strong leadership position.

Kūhiō was elected delegate to the U.S. Congress in a landslide victory for the Republicans, and helped establish a Republican hold on the legislature. He served from March 4, 1903 until his death, winning a total of ten elections.^[8] During this time he instituted local government at the county level, creating the county system still used today in Hawaiʻi. He staffed the civil service positions that resulted with Hawaiian appointees.^{[citation needed]} This move combined the political patronage system of 19th century American politics with the traditional Hawaiian chiefly role of beneficently delegating authority to trusted retainers^{[citation needed]}.

In 1903, Kūhiō reorganized the Royal Order of Kamehameha I, which held the first observance of the Kamehameha Day holiday in 1904.^[4] He was a founder of the first Hawaiian Civic Club on December 7, 1918.^[9] He helped organize a centenary celebration of the death of Kamehameha I in 1919.^[10]

The Prince Kūhiō Statue atWaikīkī

In 1919, Kūhiō introduced in Congress the first-ever Hawaii Statehood Act. It would be another 40 years before seeing fruition.

During this period, the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1921 was signed by President Warren Harding. Despite Kūhiō's wishes, the Act contained high blood-quantum requirements, and leased land instead of granting it fee-simple, creating a perpetual government institution. This act and the others that followed continue to be controversial in contemporary Hawaiian politics, and have been used to justify more recent legislation like the Akaka Bill.^[11] He served on the first Hawaiian Homes Commission starting on September 16, 1921.^[10]

Kūhiō died on January 7, 1922. His body was interred near his royal family at the Royal Mausoleumknown as Mauna ʻAla in Nuʻuanu on the island of Oʻahu.^[12] He is memorialized by streets, beaches, the Prince Kūhiō Plaza Shopping Center, and the Prince Kuhio Federal Building named in his honor. Prince Kūhiō Day on March 26 is a state holiday that honors Kūhiō's birth.^[4] Two of Hawaii's public schools also honor the memory of Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole: Prince Jonah Kuhio Elementary School in Honolulu and Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Elementary and Intermediate School in Papaikou, Hawaii, near Hilo on the Island of Hawaii.

[edit]References

[edit]External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole

Biography portal

• "Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole". Papakōlea Community Association. 2004. Retrieved 2010-01-02.^{[dead link]}
• Taegan D. Goddard (January 1, 2010). "Friday Night Trivia". Political Wire. Retrieved 2010-01-02.
• Henry Soszynski. "HH Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana'ole Kawānanakoa". web page on "Rootsweb". Retrieved 2010-01-02.
• "Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole". Our Family History and Ancestry. Families of Old Hawaii. Retrieved 2010-01-02.
• "Prince Kuhio: The bridge from Kingdom to State".
• "Kalaniana‘ole as pronounced by a native speaker".

David Kawānanakoa
Prince of Hawaiʻi
Spouse	Abigail Wahiʻikaʻahuʻula Campbell
Issue
David Kalākaua Kawānanakoa Abigail Kapiʻolani Kawānanakoa Lydia Liliʻuokalani Kawānanakoa
Full name
David Laʻamea Kahalepouli Kinoiki Kawānanakoa Piʻikoi
House	Kalakaua Kawānanakoa
Father	David Kahalepouli Piʻikoi King Kalākaua (hānai)
Mother	Victoria Kinoiki Kekaulike Queen Kapiʻolani (hānai)
Born	February 19, 1868 Honolulu, Oʻahu
Died	June 2, 1908 (aged 40) San Francisco, California
Burial	June 21, 1908[1] Mauna ʻAla Royal Mausoleum
Signature

Prince David Laʻamea Kahalepouli Kinoiki Kawānanakoa Piʻikoi (1868–1908), was the patriarch of the House of Kawānanakoa. He was in the line of succession to the throne of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi around the time of the kingdom's overthrow.

[edit]Life

Kawānanakoa was born February 19, 1868.^[2] David was the first child of his father High Chief David Kahalepouli Piʻikoi from Kauaʻi island, and his mother Victoria Kūhiō Kinoiki Kekaulike, a noble from the district of Hilo who was later the royal governor of the island of Hawaiiʻi. His younger brothers were Edward Keliʻiahonui (1869–1887) and Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole (1871–1922). David's family name Kawānanakoa was developed personally for him, and his own descendants have taken it for their family and name of their monarchical Royal house.

He was granted the title of Prince and style of His Royal Highness in 1883 by King Kalākaua. He was declared the third heir (after then princess Liliʻuokalani and princessKaʻiulani) to the throne of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi to avoid problematic royal elections. His mother was the sister of Queen Kapiʻolani, consort to Kalākaua. He was also King Kalākaua's first cousin; these relations gave prince Kawānanakoa his position in the succession order. In 1885 he was sent by the Hawaiian government to attend Saint Matthew's School, a private Episcopal military school in San Mateo, California. His two brothers would also attend.^[3]

On August 31, 1891, Queen Liliʻuokalani appointed him a member of her Privy Council.^[4]In 1893 the Hawaiian Kingdom was overthrown, Kawānanakoa became a supporter of the Royalist resistance and after the failed 1895 Counter-Revolution he was arrested for treason but due to lack of evidence he was released. In 1898 he announced his engagement to Kaʻiulani,^[5] but she died in 1899 before the wedding could take place.

Kawānanakoa, 2nd from left, Liliuokalani, center, during boycott of annexation ceremony.

Kawānanakoa was one of five founders of the Democratic Party of Hawaii. He attended the 1900 Democratic National Convention in Kansas City, Missouri and was the first royal to attend a national presidential nominating convention, where he was successful in gaining affiliation between his party and the Democratic Party in a party vote at the convention to incorporate Hawaii. He voted to break a tie about importing a plank into the convention platform regarding free silver.

In 1902, Kawānanakoa married Abigail Wahiʻikaʻahuʻula Campbell who assumed the title of princess. Their children were Princess Abigail Kapiʻolani (1903–1961), Prince Edward David Kalākaua (1904–1953), and Princess Lydia Liliʻuokalani (1905–1969).

David Kawānanakoa died of pneumonia June 2, 1908 in San Francisco^[6][7] before his cousin Liliʻuokalani, and thus never became the official head of the former Royal House of Hawaiʻi. His son instead succeeded, in 1917, in the royal claims of deposed Queen Liliʻuokalani, who had no children. After an elaborate funeral and parade, he was buried in the Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii.^[8]

[edit]References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: David Kawānanakoa