In the ahupuaʻa of Waikīkī, which lies in the moku of Kona here on Oʻahu, stands a roadway named after Hawaiʻi’s last direct heir to the Hawaiian Kingdom.
HONOLULU (KHON2) – In the ahupuaʻa of Waikīkī, which lies in the moku of Kona here on Oʻahu, stands a roadway named after Hawaiʻi’s last direct heir to the Hawaiian Kingdom.
We are speaking of Kaʻiulani Ave.
On October 16, 1875, Victoria Kaʻiulani Cleghorn was born to Princess Miriam Likelike and Scottish businessman Archibald Cleghorn.
At the age of 6, Kaʻiulani was offered in marriage to Japan’s Prince Komatsu with hopes to unite the royal families.
The offer was declined.
At age 13, Kaʻiulani was responsible for flipping the switch that illuminated Honolulu for the first time via electric lights.
Also at age 13, Kaʻiulani was sent to England to attend school to gain the proper education to be a future leader.
At age 15, following the death of her uncle, King Kalākaua, Kaʻiulani was proclaimed Crown Princess and heir apparent by Queen Liliʻuokalani.
Shortly following her birth, Kaʻiulani was gifted land in Waikīkī by her godmother, Princess Ruth Keʻelikōlani.
Named ʻĀinahau, the land encompassed nearly 12 acres and became the Cleghorn family’s full-time residence.
Throughout her life, Princess Kaʻiulani was looked upon as the hope for the Hawaiian Kingdom and groomed to carry it into a new generation.
Prior to being sent to England, Princess Kaʻiulani had befriended the famous author Robert Louis Stevenson.
Under the banyan tree at the ʻĀinahau estate, Stevenson had penned this poem for the young princess entitled, “To Princess Kaʻiulani:”
“Forth from her land to mine she goes,
The island maid, the island rose.
Light of heart and bright of face:
The daughter of a double race.
Her islands here in southern sun,
Shall mourn their Kaiulani gone,
And I in her dear banyan shade,
Look vainly for my little maid.
But our Scots islands far away
Shall glitter with unwonted day,
And cast for once their tempests by
To smile in Kaiulani’s eye.”
Did you know? Now you do!