Prince Kuhio Day 2023: Date, History, Things about Prince Kuhio

Prince Kuhio Day is celebrated annually on March 26 to honour the People’s Prince. Prince Kuhio was a Hawaiian prince who fought for his people’s liberties. He was best known for passing the Hawaiian Homes Act and initiating legislation to declare Hawaii a state of the United States.

The background of Prince Kuhio Day

Jonah Khi Kalanianaole was a prince of the Kingdom of Hawaii until 1893, when a coalition of American and European merchants overthrew the monarchy. Later, he represented the Territory of Hawaii as a delegate to the United States Congress, making him the only member of Congress who was born into nobility.

Prince Kuhio, as he is commonly referred to, was also known as the Prince of the People, and his efforts to preserve and strengthen the Hawaiian people are well-known. Born on March 26, 1871, he was titled heir after his maternal aunt, Queen Liliuokalani, adopted him in 1884. In 1895, at the age of 24, he participated in the Royalist uprising against the new republic, which led to his apprehension and conviction for treason.

On September 1, 1902, Kuhio joined the Republican Party and was nominated to run for Congress under their banner. Khi was then elected as a Republican delegate to the United States Congress, and subsequently won ten consecutive elections.

In 1918, Kuhio founded the first Hawaiian Civic Club and assisted New England suffragist Almira Hollander Pitman in passing the women’s suffrage measure. In 1919, he introduced the first-ever Hawaii Statehood Act. The Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, which provided homesteads for native Hawaiians, was ratified in 1921 after he introduced it in 1920. Hawaii became the 50th state in 1959, after he introduced a second measure to make it a full-fledged state.

Khi passed away on January 7, 1922, and a holiday honouring him was established in 1949. Prince Kuhio Day is now observed annually on March 26, his birthday. As part of his legacy, the Hawaiiian Civic Club provides several scholarships to Native Hawaiian students.

National OmazingYou Day 2023: Date, History, Facts, Activities

5 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT PRINCE KUHIO

After Kuhio ascended to the throne, the monarchy was deposed and replaced by a government, leaving no space for royals.

During his time in Africa, Khi joined the British Army and helped them win the Second Boer War.

Prince Kuhio and his siblings pioneered the sport of surfing while attending school in California.

Prior to the president’s enrollment, it was known as O’ahu College, but the name was changed to Punahou.

Khi reportedly leased an apartment in Washington, D.C., which he named the Bird’s Nest and decorated with hunting trophies from Africa.

PRINCE KUHIO DAY DATES

Year	Date	Day
2023	March 26	Sunday
2024	March 26	Tuesday
2025	March 26	Wednesday
2026	March 26	Thursday
2027	March 26	Friday