The Last Princess of the Hawaiian Native Royal Family Passes Away at 96

Princess Kekawulike Kawananaoa
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawananakoa, the last descendant of the indigenous royal family that ruled the Hawaiian Islands, has passed away at the age of 96.

According to the AP News and others, the Honolulu Palace in Hawaii announced in a statement on the 12th (local time), "Kawananakoa, known as the 'Ali'i of Hawaii,' passed away yesterday surrounded by her family." 'Ali'i' refers to the ancient royalty in Hawaii.

Kawananakoa's wife, Veronica, expressed her condolences, saying, "Abigail will be remembered for her love of Hawaii and its people, and I will sincerely miss her."

The exact cause of death has not been disclosed, but major foreign media reported that Princess Kawananakoa had been suffering from health issues.

Kawananakoa was from the Hawaiian royal family overthrown by the United States in 1893 and was regarded as a symbol of Hawaii's identity. Her great-grandfather was James Campbell, who amassed great wealth through sugar plantations and was once considered the largest landowner in Hawaii. Her granddaughter, Abigail Wahika Ahula Campbell, married Prince David Kawananakoa, and their daughter Lydia gave birth to Princess Kawananakoa.

Princess Kawananakoa inherited assets worth $215 million (approximately 280 billion KRW) from her ancestors and used them for scholarships for Native Hawaiian students and campaigns opposing the Honolulu rail project.

Josh Green, Governor of Hawaii, ordered the simultaneous flying of the U.S. flag and the Hawaii state flag, stating, "Princess Kawananakoa, like the previous 'Ali'i,' has left an eternal legacy for the people of Hawaii."

Meanwhile, before the Hawaiian Islands were unified into a single kingdom by the Kamehameha dynasty in the early 19th century, each island was home to its own tribes and chiefs. Hawaii was annexed by the United States in 1898 and became the 50th and final state of the U.S. in 1959.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.