Kaʻiulani

"Princess Kaiulani" redirects here. For the film, see Princess Kaiulani (film).

Kaʻiulani
Crown Princess of the Hawaiian Islands
Full name
Victoria Kaʻiulani Kalaninuiahilapalapa Kawēkiu i Lunalilo Cleghorn
House	House of Kalākaua
Father	Archibald Scott Cleghorn
Mother	Princess Likelike
Born	October 16, 1875(1875-10-16) Honolulu, Oʻahu, Hawaii,
Died	March 6, 1899(1899-03-06) (aged 23) ʻAinahau, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii
Burial	March 12, 1899(1899-03-12) Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii
Signature
Religion	Church of Hawaii

Personal standard of Princess Kaʻiulani.

Victoria Kaʻiulani Kalaninuiahilapalapa Kawēkiu i Lunalilo Cleghorn (1875–1899) was heir to the throne of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi and held the title of crown princess. Kaʻiulani became known throughout the world for her intelligence, beauty and determination. Her royal status, talent and double-ancestry (Hawaiian-Scottish) kept her frequently in the press of the day, and newspaper accounts of her comings and goings throughout her life are extensive, often parallel or interconnected with those of Queen Liliʻuokalani. After the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893, Ka'iulani overcame her personal reluctance to become visibly involved with politics (or be seen as usurping her Aunt's (Queen Liliʻuokalani's) primary role as leader of the Kanaka ʻOiwi people) by traveling from England to America to lend support to her Aunt's efforts to call America to account for its overthrow of the Hawaiian nation. She never wanted her people to be able to say that she, as next in line to the throne, made no effort on their behalf. The most notable (and well-known) instance of this took the form of an unofficial visit with the then U.S. President Grover Cleveland and his wife. While there was no direct political discussion (and no meal shared, as depicted in a recent film) during this short White House meeting, without doubt the Princess' grace and dignity impressed the Clevelands greatly, increasing the President's already existing sympathy for the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi's independence. Her role as representative of her people's rights and wishes was understood. Despite this and the Crown Princess' strong personal statement to the press (published widely in American newspapers) about the wrong done her country, and the subtle influence of her presence at various public and private gatherings (as a guest generally, not a speaker: the Princess never was given an opportunity to speak before Congress, as some commentators have claimed), ultimately Ka'iulani, her Aunt, and the Hawaiian political societies could not undo the injustice of the overthrow. The Princess returned to Hawaiʻi in 1897 to share her people's sorrows firsthand, and continue her role as a beloved Aliʻi until her death in 1899.

Heiress to the throne

Kaʻiulani as a little girl.

Victoria Kaʻiulani was born October 16, 1875 in Honolulu. Through her mother Kaʻiulani was descended from High Chief Kepoʻokalani, the first cousin of Kamehameha the Great on the side of Kamehameha's mother, Kekuʻiapoiwa II. Her mother was also sister of King Kalākaua and Queen Liliʻuokalani. Kaʻiulani's father was Archibald Cleghorn, a Scottish financier from Edinburgh and the last Royal Governor of Oʻahu. She was baptized Christmas Day, 1875 at St. Andrew's Pro Cathedral.^[1] Princess Ruth Keʻelikōlani stood as her godmother. Kaʻiulani was named after her aunt Anna Kaʻiulani who died young, and Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, whose help restored the sovereignty and independence of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi during the reign of Kamehameha III. The name comes from ka ʻiu lani which means "the highest point of heaven" or "the royal sacred one" in the Hawaiian language.^[2] Upon her birth, Kaʻiulani was gifted the estate of ʻAinahau in Waikiki by her godmother. Kaʻiulani inherited ʻAinahau at the age of 11 upon the death of her mother.

In 1881, King Kalākaua tried to arrange a marriage between Kaʻiulani and Japan's Prince Higashifushimi Yorihito in hopes of creating an alliance between Japan and the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi. However, the prince declined, as he was already pre-arranged to marry a Japanese noble lady, Arima Yoriko. In 1894, Queen Liliʻuokalani wrote to her niece to marry one of the three: Prince David Kawānanakoa, Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole, or Prince Komatsu Akihito (then studying in London), the half-brother of Higashifushimi Yorihito. She replied to her aunt that she would prefer to marry for love unless it was necessary to protect the independence of the Hawaiian Kingdom. On February 3, 1898, she declared her engagement to Prince David Kawānanakoa, but her early death ended the hope of marriage.^[3]

Education

'Poppies', oil on canvas painting 1890

The Princess grew up knowing painters Joseph Dwight Strong, a landscape painter in the court of her uncle, and Isobel Strong, a lady in waiting under her mother and stepdaughter of Robert Louis Stevenson. Stevensen called her "the island rose" in a poem he wrote in her autograph book.^[4] Art and music were also in the curriculum at Great Harrowden Hall and she took several trips to Scotland and France to study art. Her few surviving paintings demonstrate considerable talent.^[5]

Because Princess Kaʻiulani was second in line to the throne after her elderly and childless aunt, it was predicted that the young girl would eventually become Queen. King Kalākaua, Queen Kapiʻolani, Cleghorn, and the Princess talked about the issue and it was determined that it would be in the young Princess's best interests that she be given a British education. In 1889, at the age of 13, Kaʻiulani was sent to Northamptonshire, England to be given a private education at Great Harrowden Hall. She excelled in her studies of Latin, Literature, Mathematics, and History there. She also took classes in French, German, and sports (mostly tennis and cricket). In 1892, Kaʻiulani made a new start by moving to Brighton where she was chaperoned and tutored by Mrs. Rooke who set up a curriculum including German, French and English. This village by the sea was very pleasing to the young princess and her enthusiasm was renewed.^[6]She continued to study in England for the next four years, despite the fact that she had originally been told that she would only be studying in Britain for one year. Her overseers from Hawaiʻi had planned for her to take a trip around Europe and had even arranged for her to have an audience with Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, but following the overthrow of her Aunt, Queen Liliʻuokalani, on January 17, 1893 by local businessmen, all plans were cancelled and she went to New York.

The overthrow

Main article: overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii

During her absence, much turmoil occurred back in Hawaiʻi. King Kalakaua died in 1891 and Princess Lydia Liliʻuokalani became Queen. Liliʻuokalani immediately appointed Kaʻiulani as her heir, and Kaʻiulani became the Crown Princess. In 1893, the Hawaiian monarchy was overthrown and the new government attempted to become a part of the United States. The news arrived to Kaʻiulani on January 30, 1893 in a short telegram that said: "'Queen Deposed', 'Monarchy Abrogated', 'Break News to Princess'".

Kaʻiulani then made a statement to the press in England:

"Four years ago, at the request of Mr. Thurston, then a Hawaiian Cabinet Minister, I was sent away to England to be educated privately and fitted to the position which by the constitution of Hawaii I was to inherit. For all these years, I have patiently and in exile striven to fit myself for my return this year to my native country. I am now told that Mr. Thurston will be in Washington asking you to take away my flag and my throne. No one tells me even this officially. Have I done anything wrong that this wrong should be done to me and my people? I am coming to Washington to plead for my throne, my nation and my flag. Will not the great American people hear me?"^[7]

She referred to Lorrin A. Thurston, who was touring the United States promoting its annexation of Hawaii.^[8] Kaʻiulani decided to take action and traveled to the United States herself the following month. Upon arrival on American shores, although shy by nature, she addressed the press in public with these words:

"Seventy years ago, Christian America sent over Christian men and women to give religion and civilization to Hawaiʻi. Today, three of the sons of those missionaries are at your capitol asking you to undo their father’s work. Who sent them? Who gave them the authority to break the Constitution which they swore they would uphold? Today, I, a poor weak girl with not one of my people with me and all these ‘Hawaiian’ statesmen against me, have strength to stand up for the rights of my people. Even now I can hear their wail in my heart and it gives me strength and courage and I am strong - strong in the faith of God, strong in the knowledge that I am right, strong in the strength of seventy million people who in this free land will hear my cry and will refuse to let their flag cover dishonor to mine!"^[9]

The Princess suffered eye problems, and developed migraines following the overthrow of the Monarchy.

The pro-annexation press of the time often treated Kaʻiulani with contempt,referring to her in print as a half-breed, or calling her "dusky", although she did not receive the blatantly racist treatment repeatedly given her Aunt. (Typical of the time, "positive" accounts of the Princess appearance often tried to emphasize what was thought to be "white" about her, although her "British" half was invoked negatively on occasion by American writers fearing Great Britain was a rival for possession of Hawaiʻi.) As she traveled across the United States following her education, the real Princess surprised open-minded members of the press. Instead of an unmannered caricature "heathen" described by enemies of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi, journalists and the public were confronted by a modern Royal Princess wearing elegant gowns and speaking English (or Hawaiian, French or German). She traveled through New York City and Boston where she attended various social events, many in her honor. She then went to Washington DC where she met with President Grover Cleveland and his wife at the White House. She made a good impression and Cleveland expressed concern for Hawaiʻi's plight. Kaʻiulani felt encouraged something would be done and returned to England. However, when Cleveland brought Kaʻiulani's case to Congress, while the United States Senate did not proceed with annexation, it refused to restore the monarchy. The situation in Hawaiʻi did not improve, and Kaʻiulani was deeply disappointed. Over the next few years, Kaʻiulani remained in Europe. There, she received news in 1894 that her childhood friend, author Robert Louis Stevenson,^[10] had died and that a new Republic of Hawaiʻi had been established. Her health slowly deteriorated. Kaʻiulani's health worsened when she learned that her half-sister, Annie Cleghorn, had died in 1897 and her guardian from England, Theophilus Harris Davies, had also died. The Princess suffered eye problems, and developed migraines following the overthrow of the Monarchy (although one such headache kept her from participating in a charity event in Paris, where a devastating fire killed scores of society women). Numerous documented symptoms may indicate she suffered from thyroid disease, which would help explain her early death.

Later years

Kaʻiulani returned to Hawaiʻi in 1897. The return to a warmer climate did not help her health. She continued to deteriorate as she struggled to readjust to the tropical climate of the Hawaiian islands. However, she continued to make public appearances at the urging of her father.

With the approval of Queen Liliʻuokalani and Queen Dowager Kapiʻolani and in compliance with the last Hawaiian constitution, Princess Kaʻiulani and Prince Kawānanakoa announced their engagement on February 3, 1898.^[11]

She was a popular subject of photographs.

She was now a private citizen of the Republic of Hawaii, and on August 12, 1898 became citizen of the Territory of Hawaii as the annexation finally took place. During the Annexation ceremony, the Princess and her aunt, Liliʻuokalani, along with other members of the royal family and with the heads of every Hawaiian political party, wore funeral attire and shuttered themselves within Washington Place, protesting what they considered an illegal transaction. "When the news of Annexation came it was bitterer than death to me," Princess Kaʻiulani, told the San Francisco Chronicle. "It was bad enough to lose the throne, but infinitely worse to have the flag go down..."^[12]

Kaʻiulani loved peacocks. She grew up enjoying the company of a flock originally belonging to her mother, and is sometimes called the "Peacock Princess".^[13][14]

Death

In 1898, while on a horse ride in the mountains of Hawaiʻi Island, Kaʻiulani was caught in a storm and came down with a fever and pneumonia. Earlier she had caught cold from swimming while on the Big Island, and this worsened matters. Kaʻiulani was brought back to Oʻahu where her health continued to decline. She died on March 6, 1899 at the age of 23 of inflammatory rheumatism. She was interred in Honolulu's Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii. Her father also said that he thought that since Hawaiʻi was gone, it was fitting for Kaʻiulani to go as well.

The Kaʻiulani statue in Waikiki

Cultural impact

Kaʻiulani has been represented in the music and dance traditions of Hawaiʻi through mele, oli and hula from the time she was born. She continues to inspire generations of Na Kanaka Maoli to traditional forms of honoring her as a beloved Aliʻi.

Kaʻiulani is the subject of several books,^[15] articles, Internet videos^[16] and musical tributes.^[17] In 1999, a bronze statue cast by Jan Gordon Fisher was dedicated in the triangle park at Kanekapolei and Kuhio Avenues in Waikiki, Honolulu.^[18]

Author Kathleen Ann Goonan used the rumored story that Kaʻiulani died of complications from childbirth as a basis for her 1996 science fiction novel The Bones of Time.^[19][20] In 2001 Ellen Emerson White published a book of the Royal Diaries Series on her early life titled Kaiulani, the People's Princess, Hawai'i, 1889.^[21]

In the fall of 2007, English filmmaker Marc Forby began production on a $9 million film titled Barbarian Princess based on the princess' attempts to restore her nation's independence. Princess Kaʻiulani was played by 12-year-old Kaimana Paʻaluhi of Oʻahu and by Q'Orianka Kilcher. Barry Pepper, Will Patton, and Shaun Evans co-star. In March 2008 scenes were filmed on location at the ʻIolani Palace. The film's world premiere was held at the Hawaii Theatre in Honolulu, Hawaii, on Friday, October 16, 2009, as part of the Hawaii International Film Festival. The film's title provoked controversy, and the film opened with mixed reviews.^[22] However, demand to see the film was high and the film festival scheduled several additional screenings. The movie's title has since been changed to Princess Kaiulani.^[23] Roadside Attractions acquired the movie's United States rights and scheduled it for theatrical release May 14, 2010.^[24][25]

Forby's film is not the first project to bring the Princess to the screen: well-known Kaʻiulani biographer Kristin Zambucka produced a docudrama called "A Cry of Peacocks" for Hawaiian television, released on videocassette in 1994 by Green Glass Productions. Zambucka is rereleasing the film on iTunes.

The Kaʻiulani Project

Jennifer Fahrni founded the Kaʻiulani Project to celebrate the life, spirit and legacy of Princess Kaʻiulani. Their goal is to reveal Kaʻiulani as a heroine who fought for her nation in its hour of need, and to serve as a meeting place and reference for other works about the Princess. The project includes Kaʻiulani: The Island Rose, a fact-based screenplay and stage play researched and written since 2003 by Fahrni and Carol Harvie-Yamaguchi, and a biography Princess Ka'iulani - Her Life and Times. The script was first performed as a public reading April 12, 2008 in Kahului, Hawaii on Maui.^[26]

Victoria Kaʻiulani, Crown Princess of the Hawaiian Islands.

Ancestry

Kaiimamao

Kapaihi a Ahu

Kameʻeiamoku

Kamakaʻeheikuli

Heulu

Kaolanialiʻi

Ululani

Keawe a Heulu

Alapaʻi Wahine

Kepoʻokalani

Keohohiwa

Kamokuʻiki (1795–1840)

Kamanawa ʻŌpio (1785–1840)

ʻAikanaka (1790–1868)

Kamaʻeokalani

Caesar Kapaʻakea (1815–1866)

Analea Keohokālole (1816–1869)

James Kaliokalani (1835–1852)

David Kalākaua (1836–1891) 1874–1891

Lydia Liliʻuokalani (1838–1917) 1891–1893

Anna Kaʻiulani (1842–1842)

Archibald Cleghorn (1835–1910)

Miriam Likelike (1851–1887)

William Pitt Leleiohoku (1854–1877)

Victoria Kaʻiulani (1875–1899)