Quentin Kawananakoa Biography
Quentin Kūhiō Kawānanakoa (born September 28, 1961), is the head of the House of Kawānanakoa. His claim to the throne of the lapsed Kingdom of Hawaii was supported by the native Hawaiian community, who refer to him as Prince Kawānanakoa. He is a politician of the State of Hawaii, serving as minority leader in the Hawaii State Legislature. Kawananakoa is an organizer of the Republican Party of Hawaii and oversees the vast landholdings of the James Campbell Estate, of which he is an heir. His ninth cousin twice removed, Prince Kalokuokamaile III, is another pretender to the throne of Hawaii through the line of Kamehameha I's father, Keoua.
Early years
Kawānanakoa was born September 28, 1961 in San Francisco, California. He was the second son of his father Edward A. Kawānanakoa and his mother Carolyn Willison Kawānanakoa. He was raised in Honolulu where he graduated from Punahou School. Kawānanakoa went on to study at the University of Southern California. He returned to Oahu and graduated from the William S. Richardson School of Law. Upon obtaining his law degree, he served in private practice at the law firm Case, Bigelow & Lombardi until 2000.
Political life
In 1994, Kawānanakoa followed in his ancestors' footsteps and got involved in politics. Like his great uncle Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaole, Kawānanakoa joined the Republican Party of Hawaii for its pro-business stance. He ran and won an election for the Hawai`i State House of Representatives, an office he served through 1998. He rose through the ranks of party leadership becoming minority floor leader. During an attempt to mount a challenge for the Congressional seat held by Neil Abercrombie, Kawananakoa abruptly retired from active political life after being hospitalized.
2006 Congressional campaign
In April 2006, after eight years out of the public eye, Kawānanakoa announced his run for the Congressional seat held by Ed Case, who chose not to run for U.S. Senate. He declared his candidacy on April 23, 2006. In the primary elections held on September 24, 2006, Kawānanakoa was defeated by State Senator Robert Hogue. The final vote total was Hogue: 8,393 votes (45.6%) vs. Kawananakoa: 8,194 votes (44.5%). Senator Hogue went on to lose to Mazie Hirono.
2008 Hawai`i State House of Representatives election
In 2008 Kawānanakoa unsuccessfully ran for the Hawaii State House of Representatives. His opponent in the November 4, 2008 election was Democrat Chris Kalani Lee. Lee won with 5,885 votes to Kawananakoa's 3,374 votes.
Family
In September 1995 Kawānanakoa married Barbados native Elizabeth Broun. They had their first child in June 1996, Kincaid Kawānanakoa. In December 1999, the couple had Riley Kawānanakoa.
