Today we remember one of Hawai`i’s greatest patriots – Joseph Kaho`oluhi Nawahi who along with his wife, Emma owned and operated the Hawaiian language independence newspaper, Ke Aloha `Aina.

Born January 13, 1842 in Puna, Joseph Nawahi attended Hilo boarding school, Lahainaluna seminary and Royal school.

A self-taught practicing attorney, he served in the Hawai`i Kingdom legislature, the Queen’s cabinet and championed her efforts to replace the Bayonet Constitution forced on King Kalakaua in 1887.

After the illegal provisional government declared themselves in power in 1893, Joseph Nawahi founded a native resistance group, Hui Aloha `Aina to protest Hawai`i’s illegal annexation in 1898 and to restore the Queen to power.

Their newspaper, Ke Aloha `Aina, challenged the unlawful government and later the illegal republic of Hawai`i.

For these activities, Joseph Nawahi was jailed twice - in 1894 and 1895.

Sadly, Joseph Nawahi contracted tuberculosis upon his release and died at the age of 54 in September of 1896.
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Joseph and Emma Nawahi were two of Hawai`i’s greatest patriots.