Victoria Kaʻiulani "The People's Princess of Hawai'i"




Victoria Kaʻiulani, born as Kawēkiu Kaʻiulani Lunalilo Kalaninuiahilapalapa Cleghorn (October 16, 1875 – March 6, 1899). Also known as the Last Princess of Hawaii, and The Peacock Princess. She was skilled in swimming, surfing, paddling, painting, sewing, and lua martial arts.

Early Life: She grew up learning multiple languages: Hawaiian, English, German, French, and studied Gaelic, Tahitian, Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese, and Chinese. The princess grew up at ʻAinahau, an estate given to her by her godmother, Ruth Keʻelikolani. She loved to ride her pony "Fairy" and feed her pet peacocks under the large Indian banyan in front of her house.

Family: Her mother was Princess Miriam Likelike and her father was Archibald Scott Cleghorn. 

Cleghorn Family: Scotland, Edinburgh, the Cleghorn family was known for their expertise of the land with being landscapers, horticulturists, and urban planning. This would be from Kaʻiulani's Grandfather "Thomas Cleghorn" who had helped plan "East Prince Street Gardens" from his experience working for "Dickson Brothers" (1832). Later he would sell his business (1840) and move to New Zealand, meanwhile his son "Archibald Scott Cleghorn" (age 16) would move to Hawaii, but Thomas would move to Hawaii later in 1851. Archibald married Elizabeth Pauahi Lapeka and they had three children together: Rose Kaipuala Cleghorn, Helen Maniʻiailehua Cleghorn and Annie Pauai Cleghorn. In 1870 (age 40), he would go on to marry "Princess Miriam Likelike" and had one child, who was Kaʻiulani. 

House Kalākaua: She would be the niece of King Kalākaua and Queen Liliʻuokalani

Education: Kaʻiulani attended school in England (1889) at the prestigious girls' boarding school designed for aristocratic and high upper-class of the Victoria Era. This school was "Great Harrowden Hall" in Northamptonshire where she had a guardianship with "Theo Davies" and attended with Annie Cleghorn her half-sister. She then moved to Brighton (1892) with private tutors. Kaiulani is credited as the first-female surfer in Britain (The Museum of British Surfing). 

"We would love to commission a sculpture to honour their achievement and say thank you to Hawaii for giving the world the fantastic gift of surfing." -Peter Robinson

She went into exile in Europe after the 1893 coup against her aunt, Queen Liliʻuokalani, so it wouldn't be until she came out that she would return to Hawaii (1897). She would help organize the "Hawaiʻi Red Cross" 

Passing: She was engaged to marry Prince David Kawānanakoa, however her uncle, King Kalākaua proposed for her to marry a Japanese prince "Yamashina Sadamaro" to strengthen Hawaii-Japan ties to seek protection from American influence. Japan feared a marriage like that would upset Japan-American ties. Kawaiahaʻo Church is where her funeral was held.

Fate of Ainahau: The Ainahau estate the land encompassed 2 acres and was at one point the Cleghorn family’s full-time residence. Princess Kaʻiulani's childhood home, was located where the Ainahau Vista building now stands on Tusitala Street. Against popular belief Ainahau was not seized by the government, but destroyed by possible arson fire, a faulty heater, or by a tenant family. Helen Cleghorn's husband contested ownership of Ainahau in court, but the city acquired the property, the heir Kaʻiulani's younger half-brother sold off Ainahau to create "Waikiki Bowls" (1941) that was built over the "Healer Stones of Kapaemahu". Archibald Cleghorn also owned other Waikīkī properties: A beach home next to the Moana Hotel now covered by the original Surfrider Hotel and the Waikīkī Inn. A lot where the police station now stands, intended for Kaʻiulani upon her return in 1897. 

Ka'iulani Elementary School (Kalihi-Palama). The Princess Kaʻiulani Statue: In 1999, Outrigger commissioned the statue and they have held a lei draping ceremony every year since then, making this the 20th Annual. The ceremony honors the life of the Princess







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