Today—16 October—in Hawaiian History [1875]: A daughter is born to Scottish businessman Archibald Scott Cleghorn and his wife Princess Miriam Likelike. She is given the name Victoria Kawekiu Kaʻiulani i Lunalilo Kalaninuiahilapalapa. At the time of her birth, her father was a member of the House of Nobles and Privy Council. Her mother was a descendant of the high chief Kepoʻokalani. The young child was baptized Anglican at St. Andrewʻs Cathedral on Christmas Day with Princess Ruth Keʻelikōlani as her godmother. As an heir to the throne, Princess Kaʻiulani was sent for an education to Northampton, England in 1889. When Princess Liliʻuokalani became queen in 1891, Kaʻiulani became next in line to the throne. After the overthrow of Queen Liliʻuokalani in January of 1893, Kaʻiulani traveled to the United States to fight for her nation and upon her arrival on American shores, she addressed reporters, saying, Seventy years ago, Christian America sent over Christian men and women to give religion and civilization to Hawaii. Today, three of the sons of those missionaries are at your capitol asking you to undo their father’s work. Who sent them? Who gave them the authority to break the Constitution which they swore they would uphold? Today, I, a poor weak girl with not one of my people with me and all these ‘Hawaiian’ statesmen against me, have strength to stand up for the rights of my people. Even now I can hear their wail in my heart and it gives me strength and courage and I am strong - strong in the faith of God, strong in the knowledge that I am right, strong in the strength of seventy million people who in this free land will hear my cry and will refuse to let their flag cover dishonor to mine! Princess Kaʻiulani fell ill with pneumonia and died at age 23 on 6 March 1899. She was buried at the Royal Mausoleum at Mauna Ala.
Posted on: Thu, 16 Oct 2014 09:55:01 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015