A Royal Legacy
Kaʻiulani was a Hawaiian royal and the last heir apparent to the throne of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Born in Honolulu on the island of Oʻahu, she was the daughter of Princess Miriam Likelike and Archibald Scott Cleghorn. As the niece of King Kalākaua and Queen Liliʻuokalani, her life was deeply intertwined with the history of the Hawaiian monarchy. During her youth, she was sent to England for an education, living under the guardianship of Theo H. Davies. She became fluent in several languages, including Hawaiian, English, French, and German.
Following the 1893 overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, Kaʻiulani traveled to the United States to urge the restoration of her nation. In Washington, D.C., she met with President Grover Cleveland. After years spent traveling through Europe, she returned to Hawaii in 1897. She lived as a private citizen at ʻĀinahau and was involved in social engagements, such as hosting a grand luau for a United States Congressional commission.
Life and Interests
Kaʻiulani was an athletic individual who enjoyed activities such as equestrianism, swimming, surfing, and canoeing. She was an avid surfer on the shores of Waikiki, using an alaia surfboard made of koa wood. Beyond her physical pursuits, she was a painter who sent some of her paintings from England to Hawaii.
Her life was marked by significant political shifts, including the annexation of Hawaii by the United States in 1898, an event she viewed with great sadness. She passed away at her home at ʻĀinahau in 1899. Her remains are interred in the Kalākaua Crypt at the Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii.
