Today, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA) issued a letter to State Rep. Elijah Pierick notifying him that he will not be allowed to participate in tomorrow’s 2023 Prince Kūhiō Parade in Kapolei because of his recent public remarks criticizing ʻEwa Makai Middle School’s support of inclusivity for the LGBTQ+ community.
“The LGBTQ+ and mahu community is an essential part of the fabric of Hawai‘i that we all know and cherish,” said Kūhiō Lewis, CNHA CEO and Chair of the Prince Kūhiō Parade. “Rep. Pierick’s commentary is hurtful, not aligned to the cultural values that we work to promote, and will serve as a distraction to honoring a true leader of Hawai‘i, Prince Kūhiō. Rep. Pierick will be removed from the parade line up. We look forward to educating him on the significance of the mahu and LGBTQ+ culture in our community.”
The Prince Kūhiō Parade, to be held on Saturday, March 25th at 5 p.m. in Kapolei, honors the life and legacy of Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole. Prince Kūhiō was a Hawaiian royal, freedom fighter, and Hawaiʻi’s territorial delegate to the U.S. Congress for 19 years. The Prince Kūhiō Parade is one of four legacy parades recognized by the State of Hawaiʻi, and it brings community groups from across the state together to celebrate Prince Kūhiō’s impact on Hawai‘i and its people.