Monday was a state holiday to honor Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole, the man credited with starting the Hawaiian Home Lands movement and the Native Hawaiian civic clubs. A parade in Kapolei and a lei draping ceremony at his statue fronting Kūhiō Beach in Waikīkī took place this past weekend.
Now we spotlight the Royal Order of Kamehameha, which took part in the festivities. Arthur Aiu is the high chief, the ali’i ʻai moku, of the royal society that started in 1865 but went underground for a time after the overthrow. It was Prince Kūhiō who brought the “secret” society back into the limelight.
Aiu spoke to The Conversation about the benevolent fraternal order, which is dedicated to promoting and defending the sovereignty of the Hawaiian Kingdom.
The group will travel to Washington, D.C. in April for the opening of an exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery entitled “1898: U.S. Imperial Visions and Revisions.” The "Portrait of Queen Liliʻuokalani" by William F. Cogswell will be the centerpiece of the year-long exhibition.
This interview aired on The Conversation on March 27, 2023. The Conversation airs weekdays at 11 a.m. on HPR-1.
