Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 40, Number 1, 1 January 2023 — A Royal Philanthropist and Benefactress [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A Royal Philanthropist and Benefactress

V HE HO'OMANA'O V. ^ IN MEMORIAM *

Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawananakoa April 23, 1926 - Dec. 11, 2022

Princess Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawōnanakoa on the interior steps of 'lolnni Palaee. She devoted decades to restoring the palaee and locating furniture and artifacts dispersed following the overthrow. She was a patron of Hawaiian language, culture and the arts, and gave generously to organizations like 'Aha Pūnana Leo and the Merrie Monarch Festival. - Photo: Courtesy

By Office of Hawaiian Affairs staff Hawai'i grieves the loss of HRH Prineess Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawānanakoa, age 96, who passed away peaeefully at her Nu'uanu home with her wife by her side. Known fondly as "Kekau" by her family and close friends, Kawānanakoa was a member of The Royal House of Kawānanakoa, whieh held close ties to Hawai'is last two reigning monarchs King Kalākaua and Queen Lili'uokalani. Born in Honolulu, Kawānanakoa was the only child of Princess Lydia Kamaka'eha Lili'uokalani Kawānanakoa Morris (whose father, David Kawānanakoa, was heir to the throne) and William Jeremiah Ellerbrock, a doctor. Her parents eventually divorced and, at the age of five, she was legally adopted by her maternal grandmother, Princess Abigail Wahiika'ahu'ula Campbell Kawānanakoa, who raised her in the regal atmosphere of Hawaiian nobility. Kawānanakoa's royal lineage is distinguished and ennobled by courtesy title as the eldest granddaughter of Prince David La'amea Kaluaonalani Kahalepouli Pi'ikoi, surnamed Kawānanakoa. Prince David, along with his young brothers Edward Ahnel Keli'iahonui and Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana'ole, were recipients of Letters Patent issued under the seal of the kingdom by King Kalākaua "granting the dignity of Prince to their Royal Highnesses...with precedence under the title of Royal Highness next to [their mother] Her Royal Highness Princess Mary Kinoiki Kekaulike above all other subjects." After the passing of Princess Mary Kinoiki Kekaulike in 1884, her older sister, Queen Kapi'olani received guardianship over the three boys who took up residence in 'Iolani Palaee with King Kalākaua and Queen Kapi'olani. An heir to the estate of her great-grandfa-ther James Campbell, Kawānanakoa was educated in boarding schools abroad. She also attended Dominican College in San Rafael, CA., and later the University of Hawai'i. Kawānanakoa was a benevolent patron of

Native Hawaiian language, culture and arts, and she gave generously to many individuals and families who sought her support. Prominent among the projects that received her support was the monumental restoration of 'Iolani Palaee to its former grandeur as under the reign of King Kalākaua. Gov. John A. Burns initially entrusted the restoration to Princess Lili'uokalani Morris and, upon her passing in 1969, Kawānanakoa carried on her mother's legacy. For nearly 30 years Kawānanakoa led the Friends of 'Iolani Palaee, meticulously restoring the palaee, and traveling the world to purchase furniture and other artifacts from the palaee that had been sold off by the provisional and territorial governments after the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Kawānanakoa remains the greatest benefactor of 'Iolani Palaee, whieh stands today as a historical museum and cultural treasure. Kawānanakoa was also a patron of the movement to revive Native Hawaiian language through her early and strong support of Aha Pūnana Leo, the Merrie Monarch Festival, and numerous private and royal foundations. She was also known for her personal generosity to individual Native Hawaiians, providing scholarships and paying the medical bills of those in need, among other acts. She established three foundations in her name so that her philanthropy will continue after her passing. According to the Honolulu Star-Advertis-er, the Abigail K.K. Kawānanakoa Foundation, established in 2001, set aside $100 million to support Native Hawaiian causes. A talented and avid equestrian, Kawānanakoa is beloved among the quarter horse eommunity nationally. She raised championship horses and was inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2018. She was especially known for her ethical and loving treatment of horses. She is survived by her wife, Veronica Gail Kawānanakoa, in addition to Kawānanakoa descendants Esther Nāpelakapuokaka'e Kapi'olani Kawānanakoa, David Klaren Kaumuali'i Kawānanakoa, Quentin Kūhiō Kawānanakoa, and Andrew Pi'ikoi Kawānanakoa. ■