Aloha and Welcome
to
Olde Waikiki
Ainahau Stream Hawaii State Archives
“It is the childlike mind that finds the kingdom.”
Charles Fillmore
Statue of Princess Kaiulani & beloved pet.Copyright © Kathleen Walling Fry
"Being a princess isn't all it's cracked up to be."
Princess Diana
Princess Kaiulani"You may be a princess or the richest woman in the world, but you cannot be more than a lady."
Jennie Churchill
The Princess, age 11“The ''kingdom of Heaven'' is a condition of the heart -not something that comes ''upon the earth'' or ''after death.”
Friedrich Nietzsche
Feeding her peacocks 1898“A good mind possesses a kingdom”
Seneca
In 1881, Hawaii's King David Kalakaua was the first head of state to meet with Emperor Meiji after the "opening" of Japan. While in Japan, King Kalakaua proposed the betrothal of his 5 year old niece, Princess Victoria Kawekiu Lunaliko Kalaninuiahilapalapa Kaiulani Cleghorn, to an imperial prince.
The Princess was the Hapa-Haole (half caucasian) daughter of Kalakaua's sister Princess Miriam Likelike, and Scottish businessman/horticulturist Archibald Scott Cleghorn, sometime governor of Oahu.
Our legendary royal beauty grew up on 10 choice Waikiki acres that were a baptismal gift from her aunt, Princess Ruth (granddaughter of Kamehameha the Great).
Kaiulani's father built his family a two story home there, planting bountiful gardens of flowers and plants from all over the world, set among lily ponds. In fact, Cleghorn planted the first Banyan tree in Hawaii there.
Kaiulani's mother named the estate "Ainahau" after the stream that watered it.
Today this part of Waikiki displays street signs reading: Ainahau, Cleghorn, and Kaiulani in their honor.
Shortly after her mother passed away (1889) an unhappy 13 year old Princess was sent to England to be educated at the Great Harrowden Hall School for Girls in Northamptonshire. For someday she was expected to become queen of the Kingdom of Hawaii!
Alas, that would never be.
When the student Princess heard news that her aunt, Queen Lydia Liliuokalani, was deposed (1893) she immediately traveled from England to New York City, Boston, and Washington DC to try and save her homeland from annexation by the United States. Despite speeches, negotiations, and even a meeting with President Grover Cleveland, her efforts were in vain.
On July 4, 1894 the Republic of Hawaii was declared to a shocked Honolulu, and our Hawaii became a U.S. Territory with formal annexation by the United States in 1898 .
But the Kingdom of Hawaii continues to live in Hawaiian hearts. Even patriotic local US citizens feel a deep loyalty to this kingdom of hearts, and a heart of love for "our" royalty.
Ainahau was torn down in 1955 to make room for the Princess Kaiulani Hotel and other real estate parcels.
And the princess who would never become queen?
She returned to her beloved Ainahau estate in 1897.
But sadly our beloved citizen-princess Kaiulani died there on March 6, 1899, at the young age of 23. She never married her prince.
They say her beloved peacocks all called out at the moment of her death.
And some even claim to hear them still. . .
on dark Waikiki nights. . . LISTEN!
A L O H A! Cloudia
Mom, I, and my charmed 16-year-old son stayed at the Princess Kaiulani toward Christmas / New Year's. They had a huge winter scene train set in the lobby. It's a really nice place, with an older part and a newer part. Beautiful pool area. Most striking was the lobby's grand area with several museum artifacts describing the Princess, her story, and the precious grounds. Mahalo for telling the story...I'd forgotten about the peacocks. My son hung out with the buffet chef watching him carve various fruits! DrumMajor
ReplyDeleteQuestioning oneself and getting answers from oneself is what makes a person King.
ReplyDeletea poignant tale...
ReplyDeletesuperb pictures
namaste /\
aloha!
{{shudder}}
ReplyDeleteThere are some sad things you tell here, but some good and happy ones too.
Just like the biblical Kingdom of Israel fell, but we still remember and are still here.
I never really knew how the U.S. took Hawaii. So much still to learn.
Aloha.
This is such a beautiful post about a beautiful princess with a tragic end.
ReplyDeleteThat was nice but shattering end.
ReplyDeleteHeight of Cruelty
It's too bad that James cook was such an excellent cartographer and navigator.
ReplyDeleteVery haunting tale-- so beautifully told. I love the black and white photos.
ReplyDeleteHow sad. to die so young.
ReplyDeleteamazing pics, Cloudia. Aloha.
She reminds me of Malia Obama .. Aloha from this NY JAP .. Aloha! xo
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful young woman and what a sad ending to the story.
ReplyDeleteA sad story. So young to die.
ReplyDeleteWhat a bittersweet piece of history. Too bad she was not the queen. Too bad.
ReplyDeleteHave a terrific day and weekend. :)
That is awesome. Love the thought of the sound of the peacocks. What a beautiful girl.
ReplyDeleteDrum Major: Thanks for adding to this post.
ReplyDeleteHobo: Wise Point!
Magic Eye: I learn from you. Namaste.
Dina: I feel there is similarity between the Hawaiians & Israelis.
Kay: And you are part of the kingdom!
Bhavesh: Aloha friend!
Walking Man: You do go to the source. LOL.
Tricia, my gal pal, thank you.
Aloha, GRAN.
Daryl: YES! LOL, my fave NYC JAP!
Nihau, Teresa.
Charles: Great setting for a story, eh?
Sandee: Thnaks for da laughs at your funny site.
BW: I adore YOU!
Thank you for the mine of information Cloudia. :)
ReplyDeleteLovely photos and a poignant story.
ReplyDeleteOh, that is an amazing story. That young woman who had no choice but to travel in real time to her home. How sad and frustrating.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this story.
Ake,
ReplyDeleteJew,
Sandy C:
Thanks for visiting!
Aloha my friends
I learned of Princess Kaiulani the first time I visited Hawaii. She was a beautiful young woman and so very brave.
ReplyDeleteNice to see you here, Denise!
ReplyDelete