COMMENTARY
Kuhio helped shape modern Hawai'i
By Margaret Boyd
Margaret M. Boyd is a life member of the Hawaiian Civic Club of Honolulu and lives in Honolulu.
As a delegate to Congress, his achievements were impressive.
Today, Hawai'i celebrates the birthdate of a great Hawaiian prince. One hundred thirty-three years ago, Jonah Kuhio Kalani-ana'ole was born in a grass house on Kaua'i (March 26, 1871). He was the son of a high chief, whose father was the last king of Kaua'i, and his mother was the sister of Queen Kapi'olani.
Kuhio was close to King Kalakaua, Queen Kapi'olani and Lili'uokalani and was indulged, loved and given the best in life. When he was 13, his uncle designated him a prince of the realm. He had an excellent and comprehensive education at the Royal School, Punahou, St. Matthew's College in California and the Royal Agricultural School in London.
On Jan. 17, 1893, his world changed with the overthrow of Lili'uokalani. Then in the Hawaiian revolution to restore the queen to the Hawaiian throne, Prince Kuhio was arrested by the provincial government, jailed, tried and convicted and forced to do hard labor for several months. When he was released, he married a young chiefess, Kahanu. The couple left Hawai'i to live in voluntary exile.
In 1898, Hawai'i was annexed to the United States, and in 1901, Prince Kuhio and his wife returned to Hawai'i. He was immediately importuned to take an active part in the political organization of the new Hawai'i. He became a Republican delegate to Congress in 1902 and was re-elected 10 times.
He was called Ke Ali'i Maka'ainana, the Citizen Prince. Among his accomplishments were the Hawaiian Homestead Commission Act of 1921, his most brilliant success; establishing the Order of Kamehameha and the Hawaiian Civic Club of Honolulu; supporting national legislation in regard to the sugar industry to benefit the economy of the Islands; encouraging the development of Pearl Harbor; success in having the National Parks Service extend its programs to Hawai'i; supporting and helping to establish county governments on each island, and making certain that the 19th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, giving women the right to vote, also applied to Hawai'i.
In 1917, while on one of his many visits home, he realized that Ho-nolulu was growing. He was deeply concerned for his people and wanted to instill in them social, economic, civic and intellectual status, while also promoting the principals of good government as they themselves became outstanding citizens, and to take an active part in the civic progress of Hawai'i and all of her people. Thus began the formation of the Hawaiian Civic Club of Honolulu.
Today the club is dedicated to perpetuating the legacy of Prince Kuhio. Founded in 1918, the club members became the founding fathers of our city and helped Honolulu evolve to become the Jewel of the Pacific.
