Prince Kuhio Day: Celebrating One of Hawaii’s Greatest Leaders on March 26th 

Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaole Day is observed annually throughout the state of Hawai’i on March 26th. It is a holiday set aside as a time to honor Prince Kūhiō’s life, his vision to improve others’ lives, and his many achievements in service of his people and the chain of islands.

One of Hawaii’s Greatest Leaders

Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana‘ole was born in the Kōloa District of Kaua‘i on March 26, 1871 to High Chief David Kahalepouli Pi‘ikoi and Princess Kinoiki Kekaulike, whose father was Kaumuali‘i, Kauai’s last king. Known as the “Citizen Prince,” Kūhiō was 13 years old when his uncle, King Kalākaua, proclaimed him prince of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi.

Kūhiō attended St. Alban’s College in Honolulu (known today as ‘Iolani School) and O’ahu College (now known as Punahou School) before studying at St. Matthew’s Hall Military College in California. It was here that Prince Kūhiō and his brothers introduced the sport of surfing to the U.S. for the first time. In addition to surfing, Prince Kūhiō also played football, bicycled, ran, rowed, and practiced the Hawaiian martial art of Lua.

Photo courtesy of the State of Hawai’i Department of Accounting and General Services

At 24 years old, Prince Kūhiō joined the Royalist revolutionaries’ and was arrested for participating in an attempt to restore Queen Lili’uokalani to power in 1895. Although Prince Kūhiō was eventually pardoned, the monarchy was ultimately overthrown, making him the last Prince of Hawai’i. 

Hopeful that cooperation was the best way to help the people of Hawai’i, Prince Kūhiō decided to work with the industrialists and even ran for delegate to the House of Representatives. He not only won the election to represent the Territory of Hawai’i, but served as the delegate to the U.S. Congress until his passing in 1922. As such, Prince Kūhiō is the only member of Congress ever born into royalty.

Prince Kūhiō was instrumental in spearheading the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act and in founding the first Hawaiian Civic Club in 1918, which has now grown into a movement with more than 50 distinct organizations across Hawai‘i and the U.S. 

A fierce advocate for the rights of all humans, Prince Kūhiō worked alongside New England suffragist Almira Hollander Pitman to facilitate the passing of the women’s suffrage bill. His accomplishments also include introducing a bill requesting that Hawai’i be admitted into the U.S. as an official state in 1919. By 1959, the bill passed and Hawai’i became the 50th state. 

Before his passing on January 7, 1922 at his home in Waikīkī, Prince Kūhiō also established Pearl Harbor, Honolulu Harbor, Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse, instated the regular delivery of mail, and introduced the Hawaiʻi National Park bill, which established Haleakalā, Kīlauea, and Mauna Loa as national parks. 

Jeff Whyte/Shutterstock.com

Celebrating Prince Kūhiō Day

On March 26th, Prince Kūhiō’s birthday, we celebrate his life and contributions. In honor of Prince Kūhiō’s vision, many health organizations spend the whole month of March perpetuating his legacy through events and programs that encourage and improve health awareness on a community level. 

Every year, on his birthday, the Prince Kūhiō statue in Waikīkī on O’ahu and the monument erected in Kōloa, Kaua’i at his birthplace are draped with lei in his honor. Prior to the pandemic, it was also common to celebrate Prince Kūhiō Day by having parades and weeklong festivals showcasing Hawaii’s culture and traditions. 

While Prince Kūhiō Day ensures that he’ll be remembered as one of Hawaii’s greatest leaders, his life can be celebrated every day, in many ways – Anytime you visit Pearl Harbor, hike Haleakalā, or even check your mail in Hawai’i, it’s a manifestation of the legacy of Hawaii’s Citizen Prince.