The former royal residence of the Kingdom of Hawaii “Iolani Palace” issued a statement of condolences. Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawananakoa (Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawananakoa), the only remaining member of the royal family of Hawaii and known as the “Last Princess”, passed away on the 11th. He lived to be 96 years old.
Kawana Nakoya does not have an official title, but she is a descendant of an aristocratic family from the Kingdom of Hawaii, which was overthrown by commercial settlers in the late 19th century, AFP reported.
Kawana Nakoya passed away peacefully last night at his residence in Nu’uanu, according to a statement from Iolani Palace. The statement did not disclose a cause of death, but the Hawaii News Now website noted that she had been in poor health.
The Hawaiian Islands were once home to a series of independent chiefdoms until they were unified into a single kingdom under the Kamehameha dynasty in the early 19th century. The Kingdom of Hawaii traded independently with other sovereign nations until it was annexed by the United States in 1898. Hawaii became the 50th state of the United States in 1959.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green ordered flags to be flown at half-mast until the evening of the 18th. Greene said he and his wife were deeply saddened by Kavanaughnakoya’s passing, saying Kavanaughnakoya “carried the weight of her position with dignity and humility and enriched everyone she came into contact with.” and, like so many royals before her, leave a lasting legacy for her people.”
Because Hawaii has important military value, although the independent kingdom was formed by the consensus of the aborigines of the islands in the 18th century, the actual control has always been contested by countries such as Britain, France and the United States. The oldest landowner and the heaviest industrial entrepreneur in the area later married royal family member Abigail Kuaihelani Campbell and gave birth to Abigail Campbell.
In 1893, the United States sent troops to Hawaii to help the islanders resist the kingdom and win. The kingdom perished and the Republic was established. In 1898, Hawaii was incorporated into the territory of the United States. In 1959, it became the 50th state of the United States.
However, members of the old royal family were treated well by Americans, and Abigail Campbell became the “heir to the royal family”. After the death of Princess Dia, she was “inherited” by her daughter Kavana Nakoya to this day. Until now, many aborigines still demand the restoration of the actual status of the Hawaiian royal family.
Editor: Qin Yingwen