The Last Princess of Hawai'i

 Princess Victoria Kawēkiu Ka‘iulani Kalaninuiahilapalapa Cleghorn was born October 16, 1875. Her birth was celebrated widely as the highest-ranking royal birth of the Kalākaua dynasty. But her death on March 6, 1899, was controversial. Some say she died of pneumonia brought on by inflammatory rheumatism. Was her death a result of horseback riding in the rain in Waimea on the big island of Hawai‘i, or did she die of a broken heart, as the San Francisco Morning Call reported? Since her death, she has continued to be memorialized in hula, mele (song), film, and other performances in Hawai‘i and around the globe. An elementary school in Nu‘uuanu, Honolulu, is named after her. She is memorialized with an annual keiki hula festival in October, usually around the time of her birthday. The event is hosted by the Sheraton Princess Ka‘iulani Hotel and involves a reenactment of the royal court of the Hawaiian Kingdom. The hotel sits on the site of her former home at ‘Ainahua. In 1999, a statue of her was built in Waikīkī, commissioned by Outrigger Enterprises to demonstrate its commitment to Hawai‘i’s past.

Ka‘iulani was named crown princess by her aunt, Queen Lydia Lili‘uokalani, on March 9, 1891. Educated in England, she traveled across Europe and the U.S. in her early twenties, spreading awareness about the U.S. overthrow in 1893. As an emergent head of state, Ka‘iulani carried her kuleana (responsibility) boldly, protesting the overthrow of the kingdom by writing letters to American newspapers, taking on Lorrin A. Thurston, one of the architects of the overthrow. She accused him of conspiring to keep her away from Hawai‘i so that he and other annexationists could steal the throne. The unexpected loss of the “hope of Hawai‘i”—as Ka‘iulani has been called—seemed to foreclose the future of the Hawaiian Kingdom, making way for the ascendancy of the American empire.

As Queen Victoria of the UK, Empress of India,struck up a pen pal friendship with the Ali'i of The Kingdom of Hawai'i, the crown princess was named in her honor. 

Hawai'ian Heirloom jewelry was personally, hand designed by Queen Victoria as gifts to the visiting Hawai'ian royalty when they traveled to England for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Hence, the olde English script that is inlaid with black onyx on each piece of of the prized, sought after pendants, bracelets, rings and such, in Hawai'i.

Three Queens

Kai'u'lani's birth brought a surge of hope to the people of Hawai'i. She was hapa. Half caucasian, half Hawai'ian. Her beauty, sweetness, playful nature & highly intelligent mind were admired by many. She was educated in England, spoke several languages including her native Hawai'ian. In her studies she was educated in science, mathematics, world cultures. She also played several musical instruments though she always preferred her koa wood uke'le'le.

Her first name was Victoria (I love the name, my brilliant daughter who is an engineer was given a name that fits her so well now). She was mostly known as Princess Kai'u'lani. The Royal Sacred One.

In her short life, she fought hard for her people. She had been groomed from her birth to rule as Queen of Hawai'i one day. The day, sadly, didn't arrive. Kai'u'lani loved her peacocks & peahens that roamed freely around the grounds of her home, sometimes even walking inside to visit her. It's been said that when Kai'u'lani died, there was a loud crying of her many beloved peacocks.

Kai'u'lani may have passed from this world to the next. Her life, her love, her legend, still lives on in the hearts of thousands of people.