Princess Kaiulani
Her Life and Times
by Jennifer Fahrni

Soon, Ka'iulani was joined in England by her father, Archie, who had been eager to escort her to his native Scotland. There, the Honorable R. A. McFee hosted them at Dreghorn Castle. Ka'iulani remembered that her uncle had told her he had planted two trees at the castle. With the agreement of the McFee's she honored King Kalakaua's memory by planting another. Ka'iulani was on a mission – she made plans – she was going to be queen one day and she was preparing. Ka‘iulani learned about her Scottish roots and sought out the ancient Celtic art of her ancestors. She studied the Scots Gaelic language and made lasting bonds between the Hawaiians and the Scots. She enjoyed riding her horse at a great pace across the highlands. Ka'iulani spent many afternoons painting scenes of the Scottish countryside that she loved. One of these paintings now hangs in the Bishop Museum in Honolulu. Undoubtedly, the Scottish landscape reminded her of tropical island home. Ka‘iulani was becoming a bridge between the cultures – and the best of both.

In 1892, Ka'iulani 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.

Ka‘iulani often wrote to Queen Liliu'okalani, keeping her up to date as her education progressed: "I am so glad that Father is putting up a proper house at Ainahau. It has always been my ambition to have a house at Waikiki worthy of the beautiful garden...I have left great Harrowden Hall for good. Mr. Davies has kindly found a lady who will look after and be a sort of mother to me while I am here in Brighton. I believe Ms. Rooke is a thorough lady. I shall take lessons in French, German, music and English, especially grammar and composition."[5]

"I have enjoyed my studies very much during the last term and I feel that I am learning something. I can speak German quite fluently though I make a great many mistakes. I do not feel so very nervous about it as I used to. I hope Father will allow me to stay here till Christmas, then let me travel about on the continent for a month or two before I come "out" in Society.

I am looking forward to my return next year. I am beginning to feel very homesick. I shall be so very glad to see you. I suppose that you will not know me again as I have changed so much. I must close now, with very much love and kisses -- I remain, Your loving niece -- Victoria Kaiulani" [6]

One day, Ka‘iulani’s life was changed forever. She received shocking news from her guardian in England, Mr. Theophilus Davies. While in Liverpool, Davies was notified of the upheaval in Hawaii, then he received a telegram with instructions: Monarchy Abrogated - Queen Deposed - Break news to Princess.

In excerpts from a letter to Ka'iulani, Theo Davies, broke the news. The following letter was recently discovered by archivists at The Bishop Museum:

"My Dear Kaiulani, I received the news from Honolulu last night, and our first thought by the fire-side was of you. You will feel, as I did, rather bewildered at first, but the clear plain truth is that the Queen appointed a new cabinet – S. Parker, Cornwell, Colburn & Peterson, and then tried to give a new Constitution. The Ministers refused to sign it, and the Queen insisted, and then addressed the natives from the Palace steps. – The citizens then assembled and dethroned the Queen, who left the Palace – and the government is now in the hands of a Council – Mr. Dole president and Minister of Foreign Affairs... – A. C. Wilder, Thurston, Marsden, C. Carter, Castle are the deputation gone to Washington, where they will arrive on Friday next. – I had a telegram from Honolulu to-day asking me to tell you....As to you, my dear girl, you are in the hands of the loving Saviour, who makes no mistakes, and has his own plans for you. It may be that he will show you the way clearly, very soon, or he may want you to learn patience before the gift comes. We did pray for you last night and will pray for you."[7]

Ka‘iulani was shattered. It’s hard to imagine how she may have felt; perhaps if you recall your worst moment – your greatest loss, and then times that by 10 or 20 or 30. Ka`iulani was far from home and life as she knew it was being taken away for her, her family and her entire nation. She may have thought that her life’s purpose, all of her plans, all of her work, all of her education was now pointless. Lies were being printed about the Hawaiian people and who they were. These articles were printed in newspapers across the United States. Hawaiians were being called barbarians… uncivilized... unable to rule themselves. There were degrading political cartoons about both Ka'iulani and the Queen. One Minnesota newspaper cartoon portrayed Liliuokalani as a black slave, floosie attempting to hand over the Hawaiian crown to a pawnbroker for cash, while another magazine cover portrayed Hawaii as a troublemaking Topsy, the character from "Uncle Tom's Cabin.[8] It was clear that the Americans were receiving incorrect information about the Hawaii situation and that the creators of these cartoons had no direct knowledge of the Queen nor the Princess.

Lorrin Thurston's statement to the Chicago press on his way to Washington, Feb. 2, 1893 - "The great trouble was that the queen did not wish to resign constitutionally, but sided with that element whose cry had for years, 'Hawaii for the Hawaiians.' The Americans and Europeans, who have by far 'The Largest Interests' there, are not willing to let the natives spend the money which they have labored so hard to make." - confirms that 'the largest interest' was a matter of financial interest. Many Americans and Europeans had accumulated much wealth by cultivating Hawaiian soil, and much more was to be made, if the Hawaiian throne was abolished and Hawaii became an annex of the United States.

Ka'iulani's guardian in England, Theophilus Davies urged her to speak to press, however she didn’t have much faith that she could make a difference. Why would they believe to a seventeen year old girl, if they didn't believe the Queen? Ka'iulani suffered with the knowledge that the world saw her as someone quite contrary to who she was. Ka'iulani had to practice patience, while knowing that there were those who spread untruths about her intentions, her education and her character. She questioned if America had any desire to learn the truth.

In her nation's darkest hour, Ka‘iulani found the strength to make a statement to the press in England, which was printed in several newspapers including The Daily Bulletin on March 2, 1893, in Honolulu. It was her the first step in setting the record straight.

"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?"

On February 22nd, 1893, Ka‘iulani boarded a ship for America. She was accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Theo Davies and their daughter, Alice. Before her departure, a London reporter asked if she would be returning. She stated, "Yes, if I am successsful. I will be of age next year, and then I will carry out my original intention, ... which was to visit Queen Victoria, then visit the President of the United States, then proceed to Hawaii and assume the position to which I am entitled..." Ka'iulani expressed the hope that she might gain the sympathy of the American people. She could not see why she should be summarily deprived of her rights through no fault of her own, and without being even notified to appear in defense of them. The princess knew nothing of the affair except what she had read in the newspapers.. "I want to do all I can for my people, and be an honest, true leader to them. I simply want to do my duty to beloved Hawaii." The article which was a special to the Sacremento Record-Union stated, "The Princess shook hands warmly with the correspondent, thanked him for the sympathy shown with her cause, and asked him to convey her thanks to the American press for the hearing given her."[9]

The London press began to forward reports of the Princess to America. On February 23, 1893, The Call Newspaper in San Francisco reported "Princess Kaiulani is tall and slender, with a more thoughtful and deliberate air than might be expected in a schoolgirl." There were also newspaper reports that an uncle, John Cleghorn of San Francisco was also quickly on his way to Washington to plead the case for his niece. According to several US newspapers on Feb. 3, 1893, including the New York Times and the Salt Lake Herald, John Cleghorn stated, "If the United States will not see the justice and right of the claims I will lay before it, I shall go to England and appeal to Great Britain. Princess Kaiulani is strong brained woman capable of ruling Hawaii. She is receiving the best of education with the expectation of someday sitting on the Hawaii throne." Mr Cleghorn is extremely anxious to reach Washington to correct what he says are false impressions received by the president and cabinet. He said the princess and queen are the best of friends and the queen telegraphed her niece giving an account of the events which took her from the throne."

When Ka'iulani arrived at New York harbor, several newspapers across the United States and Hawaii, published Ka'iulani's statement to the American people: "Unbidden, stand upon your shores today where I thought so soon to receive a royal welcome on my way to my own kingdom. I come unattended, except by the loving hearts that have come with me over the wintry seas. I hear that commissioners from my land have been for many days asking this great nation to take away my little vineyard. They speak no word to me, and leave me to find out as I can from the rumors of the air that they would leave me without a home, or a name, or a nation.
Seventy years ago Christian America sent over Christian men and women to give religion and civilization to Hawaii. They gave us the gospel, they made us a nation and we learned to love and trust America. Today three of the sons of those missionaries are at your capital asking you to undo their fathers' work. Who sent them? Who gave them authority to break the constitution, which they swore they would uphold.
Today, I, a poor, weak girl, with not one of my people near 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 70,000,000 people who in this free land will hear my cry and will refuse to let their flag cover dishonor to mine." [10][11]

Americans, who had been reading the newspaper reports prior to Ka'iulani's statement from England were expecting a savage barbarian. With Ka'iulani's personal arrival in America however, the American press quickly began to correct their previous statements: "The Princess is 18 years old. She is a tall, beautiful young woman, with a sweet face and slender figure: She has the soft brown eyes and dark complexion that mark the Hawaiian beauty. She had come to the United States, she said, more for the purpose of learning and observing for herself the nature of the people who had been asked to take control of her country than to make a formal petition for her crown. "That," she said, "is rightfully mine, and if the Americans are the nobleminded people I think they are they will not be a party to the outrage by which I have lost my birthright"."

John Cleghorn did not accomplish what he had hoped, however, Ka‘iulani’s presence in the US forced the American press eat their words. They recorded her every move, from the moment she set foot on American soil.

Reports of Ka'iulani's speech quickly reached The White House. President Grover Cleveland and his wife First Lady Frances Cleveland were impressed, and wanted to meet this “Woman of the Hour”. Upon reading the reports of this accomplished, Crown Princess, who was being educated in England in preparation to inherit the throne of Hawaii, Cleveland believed it was possible that he been misinformed about the state of affairs in Hawaii.

"Her beauty, grace and sweetness completely won Mrs. Cleveland's heart, the President was charmed with her—how could it be otherwise? And Mr. Davies’ representations put matters before President Cleveland in a new light. He (President Cleveland) became aware of abuses which he had not suspected; he promised to do all he could in the interests of Princess Kaiulani, and he was as good as his word."[13]

In her darkest moments, Ka'iulani found the inner strength to fight for her nation in its hour of need. In the face of widespread slander and libel against the Hawaiian people and its Monarchy, she faced the world and spoke the truth. Her frank words and stunning beauty took the American President, people, and press, by storm, changing forever their idea of the Hawaiian people. Her mission to America was a triumph.

She was only seventeen at the time.

Ka'iulani's presence influenced President Cleveland to reassess the situation in Hawaii. In Washington – annexation was stopped and Minister James Blount was sent to Honolulu to conduct an in depth investigation of the political activities in Hawaii, and assess the situation. Honolulu celebrated. Colorful banners and images of Ka‘iulani decorated shop windows, celebrating their young princess.

Before her return to England on the ship Majestic, Ka'iulani wrote a farewell letter to the American people: "Before I leave this land I want to thank all those whose kindness has made my visit such a happy one. Not only the hundreds of hands I have clasped, or the smiles I have seen, but the written words of sympathy that have been sent to me from so many happy homes, have made me feel that, whatever happens to me, I shall never be a stranger to you again."[12] On the same day, it was announced that Minister Blount and and his party boarded the ship, Rush in New York which set them on their voyage to Honolulu.

Several newspaper articles described Ka'iulani as "entirely English" because of her time spent in England and the fact that the majority of her education was received there. Because of this, it was generally believed that England would support her claim to the Hawaiian throne over the challenge of the American politicians and businessmen. Although much of Ka'iulani's education was English, four years later, after Ka‘iulani returned home to Hawaii, she would say, "I am all Hawaiian. I love this country of mine. It’s sky, it’s trees, it’s people, it’s food – a longing which never passed away. When I came home at last from England, I ran about like a mad thing... I asked for all native things – poi, taro, even the raw fish we eat. You would think that a girl educated in England would shrink from that at least. My Aunt, the Queen, was delighted. She said, “That’s right. You are a good Hawaiian."

In 1897, Ka'iulani's heart was broken once again with the news of the death of her dear sister, Annie. Annie, a young mother at the time, passed away at the age of 29.

On February 12, 1898, The New York Times published an article titled, "Princess Kaiulani Engaged - To Wed Prince David Kawananakoa of Hawaiian Royal Blood. The engagement is announced of a marriage that has ben arranged between Prince David Kawananakoa and Princess Kaiulani. The formal betrothal merely awaits the signature to certain deeds of family settlement of dowager Queen Kapiolani." Throughout her years, there had been several other reports of "engagements" to various gentlemen, however, Ka'iulani's previous statement that she 'would ony marry for love', casts doubt on a number of those.

In the same year, after Hawaii was finally annexed, Ka'iulani spoke of the Annexation Ball during an interview with a SanFrancisco Call reporter, "I was asked if I would be at the Annexation Ball. I looked do you see? - looked at the one who asked me that. Then 1 said, 'Why don't you ask me if I am going to pull down Hawaii's flag for them?' You know they wanted to find twelve native girls to raise the new flag. They thought it would be poetic. They did not find them."

During a moment of reflection, Ka'iulani said, "I thought my heart would break when I heard that the monarchy was overthrown, and I had all a girl's disappointment, and I think all a Queen's. I had wanted to be a good Queen some day. I had thought about it and made all sorts of vows and plans you can think of. I dreamed of all that I would do for my people. I was sure that I could make them the happiest people in the world. They are a happy people, you know—very kind and simple and trusting. They have shown that to the world, haven't they?"

March 6th, 1899 marked the end of an era; Hawaii's most beloved Hawaii/Scot, Princess Victoria Ka'iulani Cleghorn passed away. It was an unexpected shock for the entire Hawaiian nation, both native and foreign. Some described her as weak, but Ka'iulani had been a strong young woman who loved the outdoors, where she rode on horseback, surfed, paddled and sometimes swam out beyond the breakers. Although she became ill after encountering a storm at Waimea on the Island of Hawaii, no one thought it would lead to her death. It is likely that the stress Ka'iulani experienced throughout her life, was ultimately responsible for the onset of her illnesses.

The New York Times read: "Princess Ka’iulani died March 6 of inflammatory rheumatism contracted several weeks ago while of a visit to the Island of Hawaii. The funeral of the Princess will occur on Sunday, March 12, from the old native church, and will be under the direction of the Government. The ceremonies will be on a scale befitting the rank of the young Princess. The body is lying in state at Ainahau, the Princess’s old home. Thousands of persons, both native and white, have gone out to the place, and the whole town is in mourning. Flags on the Government buildings are at half mast, as are those on the residences of the foreign Consuls..." The old native church, the Times refers to is Kawaiaha'o Church in Honolulu.

Concerning Ka'iulani's weak heart, family friend Colonel MacFarlane noted, "The heart weakness, was the result of shock; the direct consequence of the blow that struck the young girl of scarce 19 when a cablegram announced that her promised kingdom had been wrenched away from her. It was utterly unanticipated, and she never got over it. Till then she had taken little notice of the politics of the hour; all her energies had been concentrated on study, on qualifying for the queenly role she was to assume upon her aunt's demise. She aspired to be a model queen, with modern ideas; to rule her people for their happiness, welfare and progress; to convert her small kingdon into a worthy sister of the more advanced kingdome of our day. Her whole life had been devoted to this."[13]

Death did not come easily to Ka'iulani. She fought it till the end.

More than one hundred years after her passing, Ka'iulani's voice is finding new ears. In a time when many Hawaiians are finding the need to speak out in order to preserve to their culture, her message, 'to tell your tuth', has more resonance than ever. Over the past few years, articles in newpapers and magazine have been printed in several countries. Her story has recently been told in a feature film, with others still in the planning stages. Perhaps Ka'iulani was simply ahead of her time.

Lahaina News, October 14, 2010 - "In addition to staging an authentic Hawaiian event, Fahrni is passionate about telling the story of Princess Ka‘iulani, who, in the wake of the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893, led a movement to reinstate the kingdom... “Ka‘iulani is a great role model for young folks today. She understood the value of her education, artistic endeavors, her friendships and understanding her roots. She was a modern thinker,” she said. “The reason I continue to tell Ka‘iulani’s story is to give the young people of today — and us old people for that matter — an example of someone who, by simply standing strong and telling the truth, changed history.

"She didn’t fail. If she hadn’t spoken up, then maybe you could say she had failed. But in the face of the worst untruths about herself and her family, when all seemed lost, Ka‘iulani, with the greatest dignity, spoke up and simply set the record straight. Her words are still strong today, and people are listening,” she concluded." - From the article, 'Be part of history at the Lahaina Royal Ho‘ike' by Mark Vieth, Editor.

A primary goal of The Ka'iulani Project is to bring the story of Ka'iulani's life to the stage and screen, in the production

"Ka'iulani - The Island Rose".

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Thirty-seven years after the death of Ka'iulani, Alice Warner, the daughter of her guardian in England, Theopilus Davies, was asked to write about her childhood friend:

"My first recollection of Ka'iulani is at a children's party at Ainahau, where we were all photographed holding hands around the big banyan tree. I also vaguely remember her coming to play with us at Craigside, before we left Honolulu as a family and settled in England. After a gap of several years Kaiulani came to us at Southport, Lancashire where we then lived and she was under my Father’s guardianship while she was in England spending many of her holidays with us – She was then at school in Northamptonshire I believe.
Later she & I were together in Brighton where we studied music & literaure etc. staying with a Miss Rooke, whose house in Jersey W? Cleghorn subsequently rented. Where we had both left school we spent a winter together in Weisbaden in charge of a German lady Freulein Stoll, where interspersed with our studies we had a little gaity & a great deal of fun – as a girl of seventeen or eighteen Kaiulani was most attractive, and had many admirers- She had a graceful figure, queenly carriage & wonderful dark eyes & a charming smile. She could be all smiles one minute & quickly changing to frowns if she was crossed, but the smiles soon came back & she was never out of temper for long. She was most affectionate & most generous to those she loved & though she had a very quick temper she had a sweet disposition & was always sorry for it when she lost her temper. And was anxious to make amends.
My last recollection of her was when my Father took her to Washington. My Mother & I accompanied them. I do not remember the year, but we were received privately at the White House by the President & Mrs. Cleveland and during the fortnight or so that we were in the Unites States, in Washington, New York & Boston, we were overwhelmed with kindness & hospitality.
Of her time in Jersey I know very little. I was going to visit her there, but something prevented it. I never went.
Then came her return to the Islands & the tragedy of her early death."
Alice Warner, daughter of the late Theo H. Davies of Honolulu. [14]

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Facts and references continue to be added to this page.

Photos and letters not noted below in"References", are courtesy of Hawaii State Archives at Iolani Palace.

References

1. The Yacht Nyanza, The Hawaiian Gazette, (Jan., 1889) U. S. Library of Congress Archive.
2. Princess Victoria Kaiulani (June 22, 1894) letter. Daughters of Hawaii Archives. Ka'iulani's letters. Kaiulani to Liliuokalani 147-28.
3. Img. Painting, "Lilies", oil on cuconut husk by Victoria Kaiulani Cleghorn. Courtesy of Melinda Lee Ka'iulani Cleghorn Collection.
4. Not Yet Annexed, Honolulu Daily Bulletin, (March 2, 1893) U. S. Library of Congress Archive.
5. Princess Victoria Kaiulani (Feb. 5, 1892) letter. Daughters of Hawaii Archives. Ka'iulani's letters. Kaiulani to Liliuokalani 147 - 19.
6. Princess Victoria Kaiulani (Apr.19, 1892) letter. Daughters of Hawaii Archives. Ka'iulani's letters. Kaiulani to Liliuokalani 147-25.
7. Theophilus H. Davies (Jan. 30, 1893) letter. Bishop Museum Archives. Manuscript/Typescript no.: MS Group 239.1 Box 5.
8. Uncle Sam's Cabin, Art Collection GIP Political Cartoons, Bishop Museum Archives, CP 103874
9. Her Only Plaint, Kaiulani Wants but her Crown, The Sunday Call (Mar. 2, 1893). U. S. Library of Congress Archive.
10. Sacremento Record-Union, (Mar. 2, 1893). U. S. Library of Congress Archive.
11. Princess Kaiulani, the Neice of Queen Liliuokalani Arrives in New York, The Evening Bulletin, Maysville KY. (Mar. 2, 1893). U. S. Library of Congress Archive.
12. Bidding Us Goodby, The Evening Bulletin (Mar. 21, 1893). U.S. Library of Congress Archive..
13. The Princess Died of a Broken Heart,by A.R. Rose Saley,The Sunday Call (Apr. 9, 1899). U. S. Library of Congress Archive.
14. Alice Warner (Aug. 15, 1937) letter. Daughters of Hawaii Archives. Kaiulani's letters. 147-13. Note: In Hawaii, the Davies family lived at "Craigside" in Nuuanu, Oahu. In England, the family lived at "Sundown" in Hesketh Park, Southport, England.

Research for this project includes information from numerous archival newspaper articles, personal letters of the Royal Family, as well as documents from The Bishop Museum Archives, Daughters of Hawaii Archives, The Hawaiian Historical Society Archives, Hawaii State Archives at Iolani Palace, The Hawaiian Collection at UH Manoa Library and the U. S. Library of Congress Archive.