Restored the Royal Order of Kamehameha I
Born Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana‘ole on March 26, 1871, Prince Kūhiō was a descendent of Kaumuali‘i an ancient ruling chief of Kaua‘i. Prince Kūhiō was hānai (cultural adoption) by Kapi‘olani wife of David Kalākaua.
When David Kalākaua ascended the throne of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi in 1884, a proclamation that ended the Kamehameha Dynasty also declared Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana‘ole a royal prince. King David Kalākaua appointed Prince Kūhiō to a seat in the royal Cabinet administering the Department of the Interior. A year after, the overthrow of Queen Lili‘uokalani (King Kalākaua’s sister) and the Kingdom of Hawai‘i in 1893, Prince Kūhiō participated in a Kanaka ‘Ōiwi (aboriginal peoples of Hawai‘i) military attempt to restore the monarchy. However, the attempt was unsuccessful and Prince Kūhiō was sentenced to prison. After getting out of prison Prince Kūhiō left Hawai‘i, but returned after it was annexed as a territory of the United States in 1898.
Had the Hawaiian monarchy continued Prince Kūhiō would have become King of Hawai‘i upon the death of Queen Lili‘uokalani. Nevertheless, Prince Kūhiō found opportunities to serve the people as the Territory of Hawai‘i’s elected congressional delegate (Washington D.C.) for 10 consecutive terms. Prince Kūhiō was often called Ke Ali‘i Makaʻāinana (Prince of People) and is well known for his efforts to protect, preserve, and perpetuate, the Hawaiian culture and people. While a delegate of Congress, Prince Kūhiō guided the passage of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act that provides lands for native Hawaiians to homestead. Prince Kūhiō is also recognized for restoring the Royal Order of Kamehameha I and establishing the Hawaiian Civic Clubs. Prince Kūhiō served in Congress from 1903 until his death in 1922 at the age of fifty.