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Hawaiian Crown Princess Victoria Kaiulani
Princess Victoria Kaiulani became second in line to
the Hawaiian throne when her uncle, David Kalakaua, became king.
She became the crown pricess, and first in line for the throne when her
aunt Lydia Liliuoklanai became queen in 1891. The princess
never became queen herself because her aunt was deposed,
the Hawaiian Monarchy was overthrown, and Hawaii was
annexed by the United States. Princess Kaiulani died about a year
after the annexation at the age of 23. Some people believe she
died of a broken heart.
Photo Credit: Hawaii State Archives
More Photos of Princess Kaiulani
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Born: October 16, 1875
Died: March 6, 1899
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Her Birth
Princess Victoria Kaiulani was born in Honolulu, Hawaii on
October 16, 1875. Her full name was Victoria Kawekiu Lunaliko
Kalaninuiahilapalapa Kaiulani Cleghorn. Her Uncle David
Kalakaua became king of Hawaii the year before she was
born, and she was second in line for his thrown, after
her elderly aunt Lydia Liliuokalani. Princess Kaiulani was the first
"hapa haole" (half western) direct heir to the Hawaiian thrown
because her mother was Hawaiian and her father was Scottish.
Her Parents
Princess Kaiulani's mother was Miriam Likelike, who became
a princess when her brother David Kalakaua became
king of Hawaii. Her father was Scottish businessman and
horticulturist Archibald Scott Cleghorn, who later became
a governor of Oahu.
Her Childhood Home
Princess Kaiulani was given ten acres of land in Waikiki
at the time of her baptism. The land was a gift from her
godmother, Princess Ruth. Kaiulani's father built a
two story home on the land and he also created several
lily ponds and created beautiful gardens using plants
from all over the world. Kaiulani's mother named the
estate "Ainahau".
Almost Bethrothad to a Japanese Prince
When King Kalakaua visited Japan in 1881
he was welcomed by the emperor of Japan.
During that visit, Kalakaua proposed
proposed bethrothing his 5 year old niece
Princess Kaiulani to Japanese Prince Komatsu Akihito.
The offer was neither accepted or reected at the time
but later the prince wrote to King kalakaua
and explained that a marriage had already been
arranged for him when he was very young.
The Death of her Mother
Princess Likelike died at age 36 when Princess
Kaiulani was still a child.
Her Education in Europe
In 1889, not long after her mother had passed away,
and when she was 13 years old, Princess Kaiulani was
sent to England to be educated. She was not happy
about being sent there, but because she was expected to
one day become queen of the Hawaiian Kingdom it was
considered necessary for her to have a western education
and become knowledgeable about and become comfortable
with western cultures.
She went to school at the Great Harrowden Hall
School for Girls in Northamptonshire, England.
Her Brief Time as the Crown Princess
King David Kalakaua died in San Francisco in 1891, while
Kaiulani was studying in England. When he died Kaiulani's
aunt, Lydia Liliuokalani became queen and Princess
Kaiulani became the crown Princess of the Hawaiian Kingdom.
Kaiulani never became queen becauseLiliuoklanai was deposed
in 1893.
Protesting the Annexation of Hawaii
When Princess Kaiulani heard the Hawaiian Kingdom had
been overthrown she traveled from England to New York City,
Boston, and Washington DC to prevent the annexation of
Hawaii by the United States. She made speaches and participated
in negotiations, and she even met with President Grover Cleveland.
Her efforts to prevent the United States from annexing
Hawaii were not successful.
On July 4, 1894 the existance of a new
Republic of Hawaii was declared and Sanford Dole was
inaugerated as its president. Hawaii became the U.S. Territory of
Hawaii when it was formally annexed in 1898 by the United States.
The Death of Princess Kaiulani
The princess returned to Hawaii and her beloved Ainahau
estate 1897. In 1898 she became ill after she was caught in a storm
while horseback riding on the Big Island of Hawaii.
She returned to Oahu but her health never recovered.
Princess Kaiulani died on March 6, 1899, at the age of 23,
the year after the United States annexed Hawaii.
It was said that her beloved flock of peacocks at Ainahau
screamed in unison at the moment she died.
Photos of Princess Kaiulani
Pictures of Princes Victoria Kaiulani from
the time she was a baby until shortly
before her death age age 23.
A Statue of the Princess in Waikiki
A beautiful bronze statue of Princess Kaiulani feeding her
peacocks was erected at in Waikiki, on the former grounds
of the Aianahau estate, in October of 1999.
Books About Princess Kaiulani
Two of these six books are profiles and biographies of Princess Kaiulani's
One of the books is a highly ficionalized story that has been critized
by some forincluding romantic encounters between the princess and writer
Robert Louis Stevenson. Three of these six books were written
for children or for young adults.
A Movie About Princess Kaiulani's Life
British filmmaker Marc Forby will begin shooting
a movie about the life of Princess Kaiulani in
the fall of 2007
See also:
Ainahau: Princess Kaiulani's Childhood Home
Kaiulani's Mother Princess Likelike
Kaiulani's Father Archibald Cleghorn
Kaiulani's Uncle King Kalakaua
Kaiulani's Aunt Queen Liliuokalani
Named After Princess Kaiulani:
Princess Kaiulani Hotel
Princess Kaiulani Fashions
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Related Links
The Hawaiian Monarchy - Main Menu
Islands of Hawaii
Forum for Visitors to Hawaii
Hawaii Travel Newsletter
Elsewhere on the Web
Jane's Oceania on Princess Kaiulani
Kathleen Ann Goodman on Princess Kaiulani
Women of Royalty: Princess Kaiulani
Women in History of Scots Descent: Kaoulani
The Story of a Mixed Race Princess
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