March 26 – Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana`ole Day

nPostednon March 26, 2016

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nInlove holidays, which is one reason I do these write-ups, and ofncourse that means I know quite a few holidays. So when I looked at anlist of March holidays and noted that today is PrincenJonah Kuhio Kalaniana`ole Day, in the United States, I was sort ofnamazed. Wait, who the heck is Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana`ole? Andnwhy is he celebrated today? And why have I never heard of him?

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nOfncourse, I knew the answer to my own question, since the prince’s namenwas distinctly Hawaiian. Presumably, if I’d ever lived in Hawaii, Inwould’ve known about this holiday. I guess traveling to Hawaii’s manynglorious beaches during four glorious weeks spread out over threenglorious summers just didn’t convey the necessary information aboutnMarch holidays in Hawaii!

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nHawaiinused to be an independent nation, of course, and it had its ownnrulers. The last ruler of the Kingdom of Hawaii, Queen Lili’uokalani,nhad a cousin that she named as the heir to the throne. Of course, henthen took on the title of “Prince,” and if you guessed that thisncousin was Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana`ole, you’re right!

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Kuhionwas born on this date in 1871, on the island of Kaua’i.

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nPrincenKuhio was one of the best-known leaders in Hawaii’s history. In 1893,nhis kingdom was overthrown by a group of American and Europeannbusinessmen, and the “Republic of Hawaii” was formed. Thenbusinessmen didn’t want Hawaii to become a republic, though; theynimmediately lobbied for the United States to annex Hawaii.

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nHownawful is it that a bunch of American businessmen went to anotherncountry, stage an overthrow, and then demanded that their newn“republic” become an American territory?

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nPrettynawful! n

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nWell,nPrince Kuhio was in his early twenties, and he and other Hawaiiansnplanned a rebellion against the new republic. However, the rebelsnwere no match for the troops and police, and soon all thenparticipants were rounded up and put into prison. The prince wasnsentenced to a year in prison; everyone else was sentenced to death.nThe death sentences were (thankfully) commuted to prison sentences.

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nKuhio—nonlonger a prince, I guess, at this point—was in prison for thatnentire year. His fiancee visited him every day. When he got out, henmarried her, and he and his wife traveled all over Europe. They werentreated like visiting royalty. n

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nSoonnthe U.S. did annex Hawaii, and Kuhio returned to his native land tonserve his people in a new way: he ran for Congress! He ended usnserving as a U.S. Congressman from 1903 until his death, and he did anlot for his state and his people. He helped develop Pearl Harbor andnHonolulu Harbor, he made sure that mail service was well established,nand he helped make sure that native Hawaiians could obtain homesteadsnand go “back to the farm.”

nHe also did things to remember thenroyals who were his ancestors, such as reorganizing the Royal Ordernof Kamehameha I, starting the first Hawaiian Civic Club, andnorganizing a celebration of Kamehameha a century after his death.

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nDuringnall that time, Hawaii was a U.S. “Territory,” not a state. Inn1919 Kuhio introduced in Congress the first call to make Hawaii anstate – but that didn’t happen until 40 years later!

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Toncelebrate Prince Kuhio, there are festivals that feature Hawaiiannmusic and dancing and food and customs; health organizations holdnevents about health issues in Prince Kuhio’s name; there are specialnservices at Kuhio’s grave; schools and government buildings, and manynbusinesses, are closed. Some people participate in canoe races,ncultural demonstrations, or luaus.

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nOnenway for Hawaiian visitors to participate in the holiday is thenlei-drapingn– people drape leis on the statue of the prince on Waikiki, innHonolulu.

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