PO‘IPU — Kani ka pu broke the Friday morning quiet at Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort and Spa, as representatives of the resort presented the protocol of lei ho‘okupu and the portrait of Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana‘ole.
“Jonah, later known as Prince Kuhio, was born on Kaua‘i’s south shore near Po‘ipu Beach on March 26, 1871,” states a biography prepared by Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i, and accompanying the portrait of Kuhio that was prominently displayed in the resort’s lobby atrium. “His birthday is celebrated as a Hawaiian holiday.”
The protocol that included lei ho‘okupu presentations from Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i, and from participating vendors of the daylong Prince Kuhio Celebration, marked the start of festivities celebrating the birth of Prince Kuhio, a child born to Queen Kapiolani’s sister, Esther Kino‘iki Kekaulike, and David Kahalepouli Pi‘ikoi.
Celebrations extend beyond Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i, as the Royal Order of Kamehameha Chapter 3, “Kaumuali‘i” hosts its annual protocol at Prince Kuhio Park, a site selected because of its proximity to the Prince’s actual birthplace, and maintained by the Royal Order of Kamehameha.
The processional is scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m. Monday with guests expected to participate include Mayor Derek S. K. Kawakami, former mayor, and current Kaua‘i County Council member Bernard Carvalho, and other Kaua‘i dignitaries offering the traditional lei ho‘okupu, and Chapter 3-initiated ho‘okupu mele.
The County of Kaua‘i will observe the holiday announcing that all County of Kaua‘i offices, and all neighborhood centers will be closed Monday in observance of the Prince Kuhio holiday.
Refuse transfer stations, and the Kekaha Landfill will be closed for the holiday on Sunday, the Prince’s actual birth date, and will open on Monday. The schedule for residential refuse pick up will remain unchanged, and The Kaua‘i Bus will be operating on its current daily schedule.
Hawai‘i’s last reigning Prince and celebrator of traditional Hawaiian arts, Prince Kuhio was known as “The People’s Prince,” the biography went on. “He was a man of commendable sincerity and strong convictions who always stood for what was right, not yielding to weakness.”
After being educated in California and Europe, and extensive traveling, Prince Kuhio returned home and on March 4, 1903 became elected a delegate to the United States Congress.
He organized the Royal Order of Kamehameha organization, and was the founder of the first Hawaiian civic club. The Hawaiian Civic Club movement is the oldest Native Hawaiian community-based advocacy movement that advocates for improved welfare of Native Hawaiians in culture, health, economic development, education, social welfare, and nationhood. It perpetuates and preserves language, history, music, dance, and other Native Hawaiian cultural traditions.
His concern about the decline of the Hawaiian people led to his sponsoring a bill calling for Hawaiian statehood 40 years before Hawai‘i became a state, and the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act that despite Kuhio’s wishes contained high blood quantum requirements and leased the land instead of granted fee simple.
Hanapepe resident Aunty Janet Kahalekomo was a member of a Hawaiian civic club on Kaua‘i, and attended the annual Prince Kuhio protocol religiously, bringing her children and their children to the event.
“She was always ready at the crack of dawn,” said Katrina Sahut, the eldest granddaughter of Janet Kahalekomo, and a participating vendor at the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Prince Kuhio Celebration.
“Now that she’s gone, I guess I have to be the one to carry on her legacy of Hawaiian culture, including Pa‘akai, or the making of Hawaiian salt. We’ll be at the Royal Order of Kamehameha event, just like Aunty Janet.”
Pi‘ikea Sahut, the great granddaughter of Aunty Janet, offered lei ho‘okupu to the Prince Kuhio portrait on behalf of the Kahalekomo ‘ohana, and the participating vendors at the celebration.
In addition to the vendors lining both walkways leading to the Seaview Terrace, the celebration included a variety of Hawaiian music entertainment from in-person performers.
