Elizabeth Kahanu Kalaniana'ole
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Kahanu Kaleiwohi-Kaauwai Kalanianaole Woods (1879–1932) was the wife of Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaole, Hawaii's second delegate to Congress. Kaauwai was her maiden name and Kalanianaʻole was the surname of her husband. She, like her sister-in-law Abigail Campbell Kawananakoa
, was a Hawaiian princess by marriage to a Hawaiian Prince. Their husbands were granted the title in 1883 and style
"Highness", so their wives shared their title even though their marriages were after the Overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii.
, Maui on March 8, 1879, and during her childhood was a protégée of her cousin, Queen Kapiolani
. Kalanianaole's father was a lesser chief of the island of Maui named George Kaleiwohi Kaauwai (1843-1883) and his wife (Elizabeth's mother) was Ulalia Muolo Keaweaheulu Laanui Laanui. Her family descends from the Royalty of Maui. High Chief William Hoapili Kaauwai, the first ordained Hawaiian Anglican
priests, and his wife High Chiefess Mary Ann Kiliwehi (daughter of Liliha), who both accompanied Queen Emma
on her visit to Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom in the 1860s, were her aunt and uncle. She was educated at the Sacred Hearts Academy
.
in Honolulu, Oahu.
She and her husband decided that they would leave Hawaii for a while since the monarchy was overthrown and hopes of restoration were dim. For two years she and Kūhiō traveled in Europe
and South Africa
as wealthy "nobility" and were usually recognized as royals even though the Kingdom had been overthrown. However, once a German count in Geneva, Switzerland, referred loudly to their dark skin color. Her husband used his boxing skill to knock the man out. As time passed her husband lost his feeling of bitterness and wanted to be back in the middle of the action in the Territory of Hawaii
.
They arrived home in September 1901 and settled at Pualeilani, the Waikiki home they had inherited from Kūhiō's aunt, Queen Kapiolani (where she died).
and Hawaii by Charmian London, Princess Elizabeth is described as:
. If the Hawaiian kingdom had not been overthrown, her husband would have succeed as king and she would have been queen consort of Hawaii. On January 7, 1922, her husband died and was intered in the Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii
. She converted the tomb into a chapel. She was appointed to fill her husband's place as a member of the Hawaiian Home Commission. She remarried to James Frank Woods
in 1923. Woods was widower of Eva Parker Woods, daughter of Samuel Parker
, who was the first Republican candidate for congressional delegate, and himself a great-grandson of Parker Ranch
founder John Palmer Parker
.
She died at Queen's Hospital on February 20, 1932. She had been President of the Native Sons & Daughters of Hawaii, Honourable President of the Kaahumanu Society, Regent of Hui Kalama, and Moi of the Daughters & Sons of Hawaiian Warriors.
Abigail Campbell Kawananakoa
Abigail Wahiikaahuula Campbell Kawānanakoa , was a politician and Princess of Hawaii.-Life:Abigail Campbell was born January 1, 1882 in Honolulu. Her father was James Campbell, one of the wealthiest industrialists in the Kingdom of Hawaii...
, was a Hawaiian princess by marriage to a Hawaiian Prince. Their husbands were granted the title in 1883 and style
Style (manner of address)
A style of office, or honorific, is a legal, official, or recognized title. A style, by tradition or law, precedes a reference to a person who holds a post or political office, and is sometimes used to refer to the office itself. An honorific can also be awarded to an individual in a personal...
"Highness", so their wives shared their title even though their marriages were after the Overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii.
Early life
She was born in MakawaoMakawao, Hawaii
Makawao is a census-designated place in Maui County, Hawaii, United States. The population was 6,327 at the 2000 census. Located in the rural northeast slope of Haleakala on East Maui, the community is known for being the hub of the "Upcountry", a part of the island dominated by mostly...
, Maui on March 8, 1879, and during her childhood was a protégée of her cousin, Queen Kapiolani
Queen Kapiolani
Queen Kapiolani formally Esther Kapiolani or Esther Kapiolani Napelakapuokakae, was married to King David Kalākaua and reigned as Queen Consort of the Kingdom of Hawaii.-Life:...
. Kalanianaole's father was a lesser chief of the island of Maui named George Kaleiwohi Kaauwai (1843-1883) and his wife (Elizabeth's mother) was Ulalia Muolo Keaweaheulu Laanui Laanui. Her family descends from the Royalty of Maui. High Chief William Hoapili Kaauwai, the first ordained Hawaiian Anglican
Church of Hawaii
The Church of Hawaii, originally called the Hawaiian Reformed Catholic Church, was the national church of the Kingdom of Hawaii and a member of the Anglican Communion from 1862 to 1893.-History:...
priests, and his wife High Chiefess Mary Ann Kiliwehi (daughter of Liliha), who both accompanied Queen Emma
Queen Emma of Hawaii
Queen Consort Emma Kalanikaumakaamano Kaleleonālani Naea Rooke of Hawaii was queen consort of King Kamehameha IV from 1856 to his death in 1863. She ran for ruling monarch against King David Kalākaua but was defeated....
on her visit to Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom in the 1860s, were her aunt and uncle. She was educated at the Sacred Hearts Academy
Sacred Hearts Academy
Sacred Hearts Academy also known as Sacred Hearts or SHA is located on 3253 Waialae Avenue, in the town of Kaimuki in Honolulu, Hawaii, is a historic Roman Catholic college preparatory school for girls founded in 1909 to serve the needs of early Hawaii Catholics in the former Territory of Hawaii...
.
Marriage to Kūhiō
Elizabeth met Kūhiō in 1895 after his participation in the failed Wilcox Rebellion had brought him into jail for almost a year. Kahanu brought him food, and sang songs to break his isolation. Just after he was released she married Prince Kūhiō on October 8, 1896. Their wedding was held in the Saint Andrew's CathedralCathedral Church of Saint Andrew, Honolulu
The Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew, also commonly known as St. Andrew's Cathedral, is a cathedral of the Episcopal Church in the United States located in the State of Hawaii...
in Honolulu, Oahu.
She and her husband decided that they would leave Hawaii for a while since the monarchy was overthrown and hopes of restoration were dim. For two years she and Kūhiō traveled in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
as wealthy "nobility" and were usually recognized as royals even though the Kingdom had been overthrown. However, once a German count in Geneva, Switzerland, referred loudly to their dark skin color. Her husband used his boxing skill to knock the man out. As time passed her husband lost his feeling of bitterness and wanted to be back in the middle of the action in the Territory of Hawaii
Territory of Hawaii
The Territory of Hawaii or Hawaii Territory was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 7, 1898, until August 21, 1959, when its territory, with the exception of Johnston Atoll, was admitted to the Union as the fiftieth U.S. state, the State of Hawaii.The U.S...
.
They arrived home in September 1901 and settled at Pualeilani, the Waikiki home they had inherited from Kūhiō's aunt, Queen Kapiolani (where she died).
Description
In Jack LondonJack London
John Griffith "Jack" London was an American author, journalist, and social activist. He was a pioneer in the then-burgeoning world of commercial magazine fiction and was one of the first fiction writers to obtain worldwide celebrity and a large fortune from his fiction alone...
and Hawaii by Charmian London, Princess Elizabeth is described as:
... a gorgeous creature that eclipsed the handsome look of her husband Kuhio. Her bigness was a trifle overwhelming to one new to the physical aristocracy of the island people. One would hesitate to call her fat, she was just big, sumptuos, bearing her splendid proportions with the remarkable poise that had already been noticed in Hawaiian women, only more magnificently. Her bare shoulders were described as beautiful, the pose of her head majestic, with heavy fine dark hair that showed bronze lights in its wavy mass. She was superbly gowned in silk that had a touch of purple or lilac about it, just the tone for her full black, calm eyes and war, tawny skin. For these of chiefly blood are many shades fairer than the commoners. Jack London and Charmian London agreed that they could not expect ever to behold a more queenly woman. The descriptive powers of these were exasperatingly inept to picture the manner in which the Princess stood, touching with hers the hands of all who passed before her, with a brief, graceful droop of her fine head, and a fleeting, perfunctory, yet graciouse flash of little teeth under her small fine mouth. Glorious she was, the Princess Kalanianaʻole, every inch a princess in the very tropical essence of her. Always shall I remember her as resplendent exotic flower, swaying and bending its head with unaffected, innate grace. And the Princess Elizabeth Kalanianaʻolehas set an example, a pattern, that will make us full critical of royal women of any blood.
Death
In 1917, Kūhiō's aunt, Queen Liliuokalani died at her home in Washington PlaceWashington Place
Washington Place is a Greek Revival palace in the Hawaii Capital Historic District in Honolulu, Hawaii. It was where Queen Liliuokalani was arrested during the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Later it became the official residence of the Governor of Hawaii. It is a National Historic Landmark,...
. If the Hawaiian kingdom had not been overthrown, her husband would have succeed as king and she would have been queen consort of Hawaii. On January 7, 1922, her husband died and was intered in the Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii
Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii
The Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii, known as Mauna Ala in the Hawaiian language, is the final resting place of Hawaii's two prominent royal families: the Kamehameha Dynasty and the Kalākaua Dynasty.-Description:...
. She converted the tomb into a chapel. She was appointed to fill her husband's place as a member of the Hawaiian Home Commission. She remarried to James Frank Woods
James Frank Woods
James Frank Woods was a major landowner during the Kingdom of Hawaii who was related to royalty and many civil leaders.-Life:His father was James Woods, who was born in Liverpool, England in 1845, and came to the Hawaiian Islands in 1860 to work for Janion & Green James Frank Woods (1872–1930) was...
in 1923. Woods was widower of Eva Parker Woods, daughter of Samuel Parker
Samuel Parker (Hawaii)
Samuel Parker, known as Kamuela Parker was a major landowner and businessman on the island of Hawaii, heir to the Parker Ranch estate...
, who was the first Republican candidate for congressional delegate, and himself a great-grandson of Parker Ranch
Parker Ranch
Parker Ranch is a working cattle ranch on the Island of Hawaii in the state of Hawaii, now run by a charitable trust.-History:The ranch was founded in 1847 and is one of the oldest ranches in the United States, pre-dating many mainland ranches in Texas and other southwestern states by more than 30...
founder John Palmer Parker
John Palmer Parker
John Palmer Parker was the founder of the Parker Ranch on the island of Hawaii in Hawaii.-Life:John Palmer Parker was born May 1, 1790 in Newton, Massachusetts. His father was Samuel Parker and mother was Ann Palmer Parker ....
.
She died at Queen's Hospital on February 20, 1932. She had been President of the Native Sons & Daughters of Hawaii, Honourable President of the Kaahumanu Society, Regent of Hui Kalama, and Moi of the Daughters & Sons of Hawaiian Warriors.
External links
- Elizabeth Kahanu Kaleiwohi-Ka'auwai on Rootsweb site