Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole was born on March 26, 1871 at Kauai, Hawaii, United States, a descendant of the last independent king of that island. His father was High Chief David Kahalepouli Piikoi; his mother, Princess Kinoiki Kekaulike. He was a cousin of King Kalakaua and a nephew by marriage and was created a prince by royal proclamation in 1883.
Kalanianaole was educated in the best public and private schools of Honolulu, at St. Matthew's School in California, and at the Royal Agricultural College in England, finishing with a business course.
Before the overthrow of the monarchy in 1893 Kalanianaole held some minor offices in the government. In 1895 he was arrested, convicted, and served a prison sentence for complicity in the royalist uprising against the Republic of Hawaii.
The abrogation of the monarchy and subsequent annexation of Hawaii to the United States cut off the career to which the young prince had been looking forward. Some years of uncertainty followed, during which he traveled abroad, hunted big game in South Africa and accompanied the British army as a kind of observer during the Boer War. He thought for a time of residing permanently away from his native country, but finally returned to Hawaii at the end of 1901, frankly accepted the new order of things, and began to take his part in public affairs as a loyal American citizen.
His first political affiliation was with the Home Rule party, but he soon became dissatisfied with the narrow racial policies and undemocratic practices of that party. In the summer of 1902 he led a revolt of younger Hawaiians against the party management, in the interest of governmental efficiency and a sincere acceptance of American citizenship, and in the fall of that year joined the Republican party. He was named as the party candidate for delegate to Congress and was triumphantly elected in 1903. Although frequently at variance with his party leaders on questions of policy and faced with strong opposition at the polls, he was reelected at each succeeding election until his death. Beginning with more than the ordinary handicaps of a new member of Congress, Prince Kuhio (as he was usually called) gradually made a place for himself which enabled him to accomplish important results for the Territory. In 1919, Jonah Kuhio introduced in Congress the Hawaii Statehood Act and in 1921 Hawaiian Homes Commission Act was signed by President Warren G. Harding. He was the first member appointed on the commission in 1921 and before his death had begun to see the plans for the project taking shape.
The crowning achievement of Kalanianaole's career was his successful fight for the adoption of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act (1921), the object of which was the rehabilitation of the native race by putting the Hawaiians back on the soil as homesteaders. His example and influence were of great weight in reconciling the Hawaiians to their loss of independence as a nation.
Kalanianaole was a member of the Republican Party.
Kuhio was an all-round athlete and sportsman and had in high degree the genial personality and natural dignity characteristic of his race.
In 1896 Kalanianaole married Elizabeth Kahanu Kaauwai, a young woman of rank.
