Jonah Kuhio Ka-lani-ana-`ole was the nephew of Queen Kapiolani (wife of King David Kalakaua). Born on the island of Kaua'i on March 26, 1872, Jonah was ali'i (royal bloodline) by descent. His great-grandfather was Kaua`i’s King Ka-umu-ali`i. Jonah was adopted by King David Kalakaua and Queen Kapiolani, making him a prince.
Prince Kuhio was educated on local, Hawaiian standards and also around the world. He also studied in Europe and Japan. After the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893, Prince Kuhio was elected Republican delegate to the US Congress.
One of Prince Kuhio's many accolades was the creation of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act (also known as the Hawaiian Homestead Act). This law offered benefits to native Hawaiian people (at least 50% Hawaiian blood) in the form of homestead land leases for $1 per year.

Prince Kūhiō Day is an official holiday in the state of Hawaiʻi. It is celebrated annually on March 26, to mark the birth of Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole — heir to the throne of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi, prince of the House of Kalākaua, and later territorial delegate to the United States Congress. As a US Delegate, Kuhio authored the first Hawaii Statehood bill in 1919. Hawaii officially became the 50th state of the United States in 1959.