Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole (March 26 1871 — January 7, 1922) was a prince of the reigning House of Kalakaua when the Kingdom of Hawaii was overthrown by its American residents in 1893. He later went on to become a politician and served in the United States Congress.

Early life

Kalanianaole was born in Koloa on the island of Kauai. He attended the Royal School and Punahou School in Honolulu on the island of Oahu. He studied for four years at St. Matthew's College in California and at the Royal Agricultural College in England. He graduated from a business school in England.

Prince of the Kalakaua Dynasty

In 1884, upon the assumption of the Kalakaua Dynasty to the throne of the Kingdom of Hawaii, a proclamation ending the Kamehameha Dynasty also declared Jonah a royal prince. He was then appointed by his uncle, King David Kalakaua, to a seat in the royal Cabinet administering the Department of the Interior.

Overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom

The Kingdom of Hawaii was overthrown by American businessmen in 1893. In 1895, native Hawaiians and American sympathizers organized a revolution against the newly formed Republic of Hawaii led by President Sanford B. Dole. The revolution was squashed with the help of American troops. Jonah was sentenced to a year in prison while others were executed for treason against the republic.

Upon his leave of imprisonment, he traveled to Africa from 1899 to 1902. He joined the British Army to fight in the Boer War.

From Prince to American statesman

Returning from military service in Africa, Jonah returned to a Hawaii annexed as a territory of the United States. In a campaign to secure home rule for his former subjects, Jonah was elected to the U.S. Congress as a delegate. He served from March 4, 1903 till his death in Waikiki on January 7, 1922. His body was laid to rest with the rest of his royal family at the Royal Mausoleum in Nuuanu on the island of Oahu.