Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 30, Number 3, 1 March 2013 — Mahalo, Prince Kūhiō [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Mahalo, Prince Kūhiō

Aloha from Kaua 'i and Ni'ihau! It looks like I'm starting this eolumn by again giving thanks. This time, it is a mahalo to Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana'ole, in honor of his birthday month, for all the work he did on behalf of our Hawaiian people and continuing our ali'i's tradition of caring for their people. As the Kaua'i and Ni'ihau trustee, this is a particular honor for me because Prince Kūhiō was born in Kōloa, on the south shore of Kaua'i.

As Hawai'i's delegate to Congress and a tireless advocate for Hawaiians, Prince Kūhiō's crowning achievement was getting the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1921 passed. Today, his legacy ean be seen on the faces of thousands of Hawaiian homesteaders, beneficiaries of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, spread across some 200,000 acres of land throughout Hawai'i. For that, generations of Hawaiians have been indebted to him. Many of us involved with the Hawaiian eommunity work to support ensuring that legacy for future generations to eome. Health is an important issue to me personally and I can't help but think of the poor health of our Hawaiian people that Prince Kūhiō saw in the early 1900s. Following deadly diseases, the Great Mahele and the overthrow of the sovereign Kingdom of Hawai'i, Hawaiians died at an alarming rate and many were living in poverty. Quite simply, Hawaiians had been disenfranchised and marginalized in their own homeland. That is what inspired Prince Kūhiō to do what is right and what is pono,

no matter how difficult the task was. And it is a powerful reminder for us today as Hawaiian leaders to strive eaeh and every day to follow his leadership and that of other ali'i to work toward the betterment of all Hawaiians. Whether you are Hawaiian or not, I hope you will embrace this kuleana to Hawai'i's native people. You see, in the 90 years since the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, the health, education and eeonomie well-being of

Hawaiians remains helow that of other groups. An OHA research study also indicates thatNative 1 1 iu: i i:i iw receive disnarate treatment

in our criminal justice system. We have eome far, but there is still mueh work to be done. Indeed, our ali'i have set a high bar for the rest of us to follow. Kaua'i celebrates Prince Kūhiō's birthday with a gathering sponsored by the brothers of the Royal Order of Kamehameha I, Chapter No. 3, Kaumuali'i and the women of Nā Wahine Hui o Kamehameha eaeh year, held at Prince Kūhiō Park. One cannot help but feel the prince's mana as dignitaries, Hawaiians and even tourists gather at his birthplaee. I would also like to recognize the hard work and dedication that goes in to the care of this park in honor of Prince Kūhiō every single day. It is definitely a proud month for me to serve as the Kaua'i and Ni'ihau trustee. Now let us all go forward and be proud of - and thankful for - Prince Kūhiō's vision, hard work and legacy. And whether you are Hawaiian or not, be mindful that when Hawaiians flourish, so does Hawai'i nei and everyone who calls this very special plaee home. Mahalo nui loa ! ■

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Dan Ahuna Trustee, Kaua'i and Ni'ihau