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| Princess Ka'iulani
by seraphimxx1 at 6/21/2008 7:39:51 PM
Victoria Kawekiu Lunalilo Kalaninuiahilapalapa Ka'iulani Cleghorn.
She was the bi-racial product of an increasingly hybrid society - daughter of Miriam Likelike (sister of King Kalakaua, renaissance man extraordinary) and Scotsman Archibald Cleghorn; from childhood she acquired a global perspective on the place of her nation; as that Nation's future Queen, destined to assume a place amongst the cultured - and politically astute - rulers of the world, a British education was deemed essential.
(October 16, 1875 – March 6, 1899) was heir to the throne of the Kingdom of Hawai'i and held the title of crown princess. Ka'iulani became known throughout the world for her intelligence, beauty and determination. During the Overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893, she spearheaded a campaign to restore the monarchy by speaking before the United States Congress and pleading with U.S. Presidents Benjamin Harrison and later Grover Cleveland. Her life story grew to legendary proportions after her untimely death.
Because Princess Ka'iulani 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 Kalakaua, Queen Kapi'olani, 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 1888, at the age of 13, Ka'iulani 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.
The Princess grew up knowing painters Joseph Dwight Strong and Isobel Strong, and one of them may have given her art lessons. Her few surviving paintings demonstrate considerable talent.
She was portrayed as a "heathen Princess", the clownish "Princess Koylani" of pro-Annexation skits and cartoons. "Barbaric" or "savage" the anti-Monarchy propaganda-merchants tried to paint her, proved quite a surprise as she traveled across the United States following her education; instead of the caricature cannibal expected, the paparazzi of the day were confronted by an exquisite Royal Princess wearing the latest Paris gowns and speaking cultured English (or Hawaiian, French and German, if the occasion demanded). She traveled through New York City and Boston where she attended numerous press conferences and banquets. 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 promised to help her cause. Ka'iulani felt satisfied that something would be done and returned to England. However, when Cleveland brought forth Ka'iulani's case to Congress, the United States Senate refused to help.
Ka'iulani returned to Hawai'i in 1897. The return to a warmer climate did not help her health at all, as she had spent more than seven years in Europe. Her health 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.
Ka'iulani was famous for her love of peac*cks, and she kept the animals on her estate. For this reason, another name for her is the "Peac*ck Princess". It was said that when she died, her peac*cks screamed so loud that they had to be shot to silence them.In 1898, while on a horse ride in the mountains of Hawai'i Island, she got caught in a storm and shortly came down with a fever. Ka'iulani was brought back to O'ahu where her health continued to decline. She died on March 6, 1899 at the age of 23. Some Native Hawaiians believe that Ka'iulani died of a broken heart, having suffered many losses in her life. Her father also said that he thought that since Hawai'i was gone, it was fitting for Ka'iulani to go as well.
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