Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 29, Number 3, 1 Malaki 2012 — From Kōloa to Wakinekono "Ke Aliʻi Makaʻāinana" still inspires [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

From Kōloa to Wakinekono "Ke Aliʻi Makaʻāinana" still inspires

Eo ē nā 'ōiwi 'ōlino. On March 26, 1871, Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana'ole Pi'ikoi, third and youngest son, was born to Her Royal Highness Princess Mary

Kinoiki Kekaulike and High Chief David Kahalepouli Pi'ikoi in a fishing village known as Kū'alu, in the district of Kōloa. As a member of the royal family he was brought up in the court of his unele King Kalākaua and at age 13 heeame a prince by royal proclamation. He studied in Hawai'i, Califomia and England.

His first bid at elective office was successful and he served as Hawai'i's delegate to Congress from 1903 to 1922. In Congress, Kūhiō achieved advancement for: the Kalaupapa leper settlement;

county government in Hawai'i; Pearl Harbor development and military installation improvements; congressional visitations to Hawai'i in 1907, 1909, 1915 and 1919; harbors funding for improvements at Honolulu, Hilo, Kahului and Nāwiliwili; a 1910 Hawaiian Homestead Act amending the Organic Act to open puhlie lands to homesteading. Following that, Kūhiō advocated for special homesteading lands for Hawaiians only. Following that, Kūhiō advocated for special

homesteading lands for Hawaiians only. In 1916, enabling the Department of the Interior to take over a large area of the Kīlauea volcano for development as a nahonal park, Kūhiō was called the "Father of Hawai'i Nahonal Park." Kūhiō further advocated for the Rehabilitation Act, the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, a battle that was not won until 1921. Kūhiō served on the Hawaiian Homes Commission set up to implement the Rehabilitation Act. On Feb. 11, 1919, Delegate Kalaniana'ole introduced a bill in Congress asking that

Hawai'i be admitted to the United States. Prince Kūhiō established the Order of Kamehameha officiating in 1904 at the first observance of Kamehameha Day; organized The

Chiefs of Hawai'i and the Hawaiian Civic Club. Today, the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs consists of 58 Hawaiian Civic Clubs located throughout the State of Hawai'i, in Alaska, California, Colorado, Illinois, Nevada, Utah, Virginia, Washington state, Tennessee and Texas and Ke Ali'i Maka'āinana in Washington,

D.C. Prince Kūhiō died of heart disease at Pua Leilani in Waiklkl, Jan. 7, 1922, at the age of 50. On the gold and silver shield that marks his casket are inscribed

the words "Ke Alii Makaainana," whieh means "A Prince of the People." And he rests for all seasons at Mauna'ala in Nu'uanu. His birthplace in Kōloa, Kaua'i, was made into a park in 1928 and a statue placed there on a simple rock pedestal with a plaque engraved in bronze reads, "Ke Alii Makaainana." 'A'ole mākou e poina i kāu hana maika'i. E ola kou inoa ka 'elele i Wakinekona, ke ali'i lokomaika'i, Ke Ali'iMaka'āinana, e mau ka ho'omana'o, e Kalaniana'ole. 39/48 ■

Haunani Apnlinna, MSW TrustEE, At-largE

The birth site of Prince Kūhiō in Kōloa, Kaua'i, was made into a park in 1 928. - Photo: Trustee Apoliona