My cousin married Tommy Stone in his later years, and I have had many conversations with him over DHHL. Some were agreeable and some was explosive. I believe the source of this posting was written by Pauling King. If this is not true please except my apologies. It is the content of this posting that is important:
The naming of the handsome Federal Building in downtown Honolulu for Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole appropriately symbolizes one of the essential principles of his life: the importance of the Hawaiian person and his culture in the context of American society with its advantages for opportunity and self-determination.
The belief in American democracy was fundamental to the thinking of the Prince. The words themselves express a contradiction--a Prince, a democracy, yet this opposition of terms reflect perfectly the development in the ideas and the situation of this remarbable man.
Kuhio was born on March 26, 1871 the son of na ali'i who could trace their lineage back to the ancients. His father Kahale-po-uli was descended from Kauai kings. His mother, Kinoiki Ke-kaulike, was a sister of Queen Kapiolani. His early childhood to young manhood was typically that of a treasured member of the ali'i. He was close to King Kalakaua, to his aunt, and to Liliuokalani; lived at Court and participated in courtly functions. He was indulged and loved and given all the best in life gifts that could be given. When he was thirteen his uncle designated him a prince of the realm which placed him in line for succession to the throne of the Hawaiian Kingdom. His education was excellent and comprehensive: the Royal School, Punahou, St. Mathews College in California and in London both the Royal Agricultural College and a business college. He was used to travel having been to Europe and having lived in Japan for a period of time.
By the age of 21 Kuhio was well prepared to assume the role of monarch if this responsibility would pass to him. Then, on January 17, 1893, his world was changed by revolution and the abrogation of the monarchy. For two years the supporters of Liliuokalani and the monarchy planned for a restoration. But the night before their counter-revolution could be successful, the revolutionary Provisional Government raided the headquarters of the monarchists, arrested and jailed the leaders. Kuhio was one of these men. He was tried, convicted and sentenced, and spent some months in jail forced to do maual labor. When he was released he married a young chiefess, Kahanu. The couple left Hawaii in voluntary exile.
They spent some years on world tour. They visited Paris and the continent, he hunted in Africa, and even joined the British side during the Boer War. All this was very far removed from his Hawaiian heritage.
In the meantime Hawaii was annexed to the United States in 1898 and was organized as a territory in 1900. In the fall of 1901 Kuhio and his wife returned to Hawaii and immediately he was importuned to take an active part in the political organization of the new Hawaii. It took several lengthy conversations and much persuasion to convince Kuhio that he could best serve his homeland and its people by joining the Republican Party, and becoming its condidate for delegate to Congress. He was elected for the first time in 1902, and proceeded to be reelected 10 times thereafter. When he died on January 7, 1922, he was in his 20th year in Congress.
In his political life in Congress he experienced the transformation of a man in support of monarchy to one who defended democracy vigorously; in other words from rule to service. By doing so he gave Hawaii and the Hawaiians the benefit of his intelligence, his training, and his humanity.
In his social life Kuhio and his wife continued to live the life-style of the ali'i. Their lovely home in Waikiki, Pualei lani, was the place of gracious entertainment for dignitaries, for friends from near and far and the mainland and among the European aristocracy. His tastes were expansive, to live well, generously and hospitably in all endeavors, In sports he enjoyed those of his own class: hunting, polo, yachting, game fishing and the like.
He had, in fact, made the transition from Hawaiian monarchy to American democracy in the best possible manner. He preserved his Hawaiianness and adopted the American economic and political worlds. In doing so he developed his own personality to its fullest and he gave all that was best in him to his people.
No wonder he was called Ke Ali'i Maka'ainana, the Citizen Prince.
What were his accomplishments as an Hawaiian-American?
1. the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1921 was his most brilliant success for the law provided that Hawaiians be given first consideration in the disposition of the public lands of the Territory.
2. he established the Hawaiian organizations, the Order of Kamehameha and the Hawaiian Civic Club of Honolulu.
3. he supported national legislation in regard to the sugar industry to benefit the economy of the islands.
4. he encouraged the development of Pearl Harbor as an important part of the Pacific defense of the United States.
5. he followed the course through Congress of Pacific shipping and commerce laws.
6. he supported programs to promote the small entrepreneur for this believed in a large and healthy and strong middle class.
7. he was successful in having the national park service extend its programs to Hawaii.
8. he supported and helped get established county government the territory.
9. he also made certain that the 19th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution giving women the right to vote applied to Hawaii as well as the other states. The amendment took effect in January, 1920.
One of his most continuous concerns was for his Hawaiian people. he said once, "My people, renowned for their hospitality will be a matter of history."
In his speeches and talks, he often pursued the theme. He urged Hawaiians to take pride in their new American citizenship, to participate in self-government, to use the two-party system to gain the most from politcal freedom, to work hard and to force themselves ahead. to adjust to changing conditions.
He believed that there was a need to restore the pride of race, and a respect for past achievements, among the Hawaiians.
During his life he began to see the positive results of his ideas. After one of his most successful elections when he had been strongly opposed by powerful interest groups, he said in triumph, "Hawaiians have risen in their glory, in manhood and pride of their own. Hawaiians are now innoculated (filled) with love for their native hearth and their pride of race."
And on his death bed he said to his friend: "Stick together and try to agree to the best of your ability to meet the most important problem: the rehabilitation of our race."
In this objective Kuhio succeeded in his own career, in encouraging leadership roles among young Hawaiians and part Hawaiians and his policies. There was the growth of a Hawaiian leadership and electorate. In Hawaiian communities such as at Ho'olehua, Keaukaha, Nanakuli, the birth rate of Hawaiians and part Hawaiians increased and a renewed population has resulted today in 150.000 Hawaiians and part Hawaiians.
Yet Kuhio never went into a campaign on a purely racial basis. He often said that Hawaiians held no belief in the racial superiority of any group.
Today when we look at modern Hawaii in honor of this man we can greet you as he liked to greet all his audiences: ALOHA, ALOHA KAMA'AINA!
Replies
Usage of the word self-determination is misleading and disingenuous when semantics flip flop while dealing with Hawaiian history versus U.S.A. history according to the occupier's interpretation. She's being presumptuous speaking for the Prince and how he thinks. May I remind her that both governments were a form of democracy; one was a republic and the other a constitutional monarchy. It is clear that the author of this piece suffers from synesthesia, confused perceptions.
We know Kuhio and his older brother, David was privileged in the royal house and both were named in line of succession after the crown Princess Kaiulani because their aunt was Queen Consort to the King. It was the king's sister who succeeded him to the throne. The King's nephews had good relations with Queen Liliuokalani, sister of the late-king, but towards the end of her life, Kuhio fell out of favor attempting to have the Queen declared incompetent. This act alone would have removed him from the line of succession.
I find it self-serving for U.S. Americans to revise history and call the U.S. invasion and belligerent occupation a revolution. We know from documented facts that the U.S. puppet Provisional Government was set up and immediately recognized by U.S. Minister John Levitt Stevens. For his participation, the Provisional Govenment rewarded Stevens by melting down silver dollars to create a silver tea set in appreciation for protecting them and assisting in the takeover with the knowledge and support of the U.S. Executive Branch.
It is a fact that Hawai'i was unlawfully annexed to the U.S.A. The 31 May 1894 Turpie Resolution forewarned, after the fact, that any intervention by U.S. officials or any other foreign nation would be an "unfriendly act" against the U.S.A. In September of 1897, the subjects of the Kingdom of Hawai'i overwhelmingly protested against annexation; thus a treaty of annexation was rejected and never ratified by the U.S. Congress because they couldn't muster the required 2/3rds majority vote.
Being quite aware of the U.S. refusal to de-occupy Hawai'i at all costs while violating the law of occupation and law of neutrality, it became apparent that all of Hawai'i's subjects that were Kingdom leaders, would best serve the people in this altered-condition to work to protect them and their freedoms they enjoyed previously. It was more pronounced that they had to combat the U.S. arrogance and WASP racist attitudes. It was a continuous cultural societal clash and of values.
The author suffers from oneirataxia and can't discern between a constitutional monarchy and a republic. To say rule to service is showing her insistent ignorance. The president and a monarch is a head of state and both rule as the top banana in its respective governance. Kuhio's qualities were nutured under the Kingdom of Hawai'i as were others that were politically active.
I would venture to say that Kuhio never naturalized to the U.S.A. and maintained his position of privilege as a statesman and prince; after all, he got the best of two worlds. A side note: WTF is AN Hawaiian? Don't they know english usage? I should correctly be A Hawaiian. AN is used only before a word that begins with a vowel. Are they trying to say we are Awaiians? How stupid is that!
Common sense dictates that if he is a prince, he would be identified as a citizen and a prince; thus, citizen prince. His accomplishments are worth reviewing. Hawaiian Homestead Act of 1921 was important since many Hawaiians were being displaced by the U.S. Americans and their manifest destiny racist doctrines which he had to counter this criminal act. He never wanted blood quantum as a criteria; but the caucasian U.S. Americans insisted on it like they had with the native Americans. Kuhio acquiesced in their demands to get the bill passed. The idea was that less than one-half would alleviate their obligation to the Hawaiians and that eventually they wouldn't exist; believing the race would die out and they wouldn't have to deal with native Hawaiians anymore and could have full control of Hawaiian lands.
If the islands were one landmass, guaranteed their would be one area set as a native Hawaiian-American reservation which would restrict the economic freedom of the "tribe". The dynamics would have been drastically different and the experience would have been exactly like the Native Americans; albeit the systems are similar and detrimental to our status as Hawaii nationals. So it's questionable of the merits of the Hawaiian Homestead Act. The evolution that degraded the DHHL is a topic all its own. What it's become, I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.
Kuhio created the Hawaiian Civic Club of Honolulu as a political-social club that would be active in civic affairs relating to Hawaiian Interests. It evolved into a social club with cultural intersts and didn't become politically active until the introduction of the Akaka Bill that needed its support to pass this bill that promotes the WASP racist Manifest Destiny doctrines. He didn't create the Royal Order of Kamehameha which Kamehameha V created and revamped by Kalakaua; Kuhio reorganized it.
The author is too generous in accolades to Kuhio. We must remember that representatives from Hawaii had no vote in Congress that's why they are called delegates. They are a step above the lobbyists. Also remember that the governors of Hawai'i were appointed by the president until they proclaimed Hawai'i as a state. Governor Quinn was the last appointed governor and the first elected governor of Hawai'i. Any other delegate would have done as much except for the Hawaiian Homestead Act. U.S. regard Hawaiians like the Native Americans and the idea of a reservation fit like a glove for them.
There's a bit of romanticizing Kuhio and the Hawaiians and the push of handling the altered state enforced on them. Nonetheless, it is prudent to assume that people weren't all that excited to have the U.S. and its citizens domineering their country. We've learned there is more than one way to skin the cat and that not eveyone became confused of their worth. The acceptance of the U.S. occupation was never universal and some were misguided with the rhetoric. There is more that meets the eye than what has been postured here. It's a U.S. American tale told by an American to try to smooth an awkward transition that will always be confrontational in search of justice. For now we play the game while we know who to blame and reveal their shame.
Long Live The Hawaiian Kingdom, o Pomai
The Blood Quantum is Raced Based. The members of the Congress of the United States in 1921 knew this and they still know this as being Raced Based. Removing native Hawaiians off of Hawaiian Homestead lands based on their Blood Quantum is Raced Based.
Native Hawaiians rights to the Hawaiian Homestead Lands should be based on that United States had overthrew their Indigenous Nation Nation, the Hawaiian Kingdom of Queen Liliuokalani. That the United States has never paid the native Hawaiian People One Penney for their taking of their National Lands of their nation, the Hawaiian Kingdom.
Today many native Hawaiians are kept off of Hawaiian Homesteads lands because their do not have the proper papers of the 50% Blood Quantum.
Since the passage of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1921 more native Hawaiians have Died on the Waiiting List of the Department of Hawaiian Homes. The Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1921 has failed on it's promise to the native Hawaiian people.
Keep in mind that for 50 years, the Hawaiian Homes Commmission Act have been under the State of Hawaii as a Trust for the native Hawaiian people.
2021 the 100th Anniversary of the passage of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act is right around the corner. I wounder what Prirnce Kuhio would say to his people at this time?
Long Live The Hawaiian Kingdom, o Pomai
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o Pomai
Get Real with the Fact, Kaohi, o Pomai
Just tossing thoughts out there, my apologies, I don't have time to read. But keep writing back because yes to the military 'go home'..'de-occupation' Pono bravely shouted those words to the military on the Kam Day Parader's.
Need to iron that one out, will check back, too busy to sort at this time ...effect on Hawaiian Law.
Thanks
So what is it with you, Kaohi? One side of your Filthy Mouth you want the Mailitary to "GO HOME...'DE-OCCUPATION" and On the Other Side of your Pilau Waha you SUPPORT Prince Kuhio as "he encouraged the development of Pearl Harbor as an important part of the Pacific defense of the United States". You, Kaohi need to Step Out of Your Closet and Get Real. As everyone in Waianae knows all about you. Including the American Military who you like to have "Dinner Shows" with them.
KU I KA PONO, o Pomai .
Meaning that Prince Kuhio would support RIMPAC 2010, Get Real, o Pomai