“As you drive through to Palama your eyes, accustomed to the barren land, or sordid stores that line the roughened way, turn with Involuntary pleasure toward a splendid residence that suddenly looms before your vision.”
“It is set well back from the roadside. Its gates are wide open, as if inviting visitors; its beautiful lawns refresh one’s senses, and its trees and fernery call up many a pleasant memory of other trees and other ferneries in a far distant land.”
“For this is the Ka‘iulani School! Yesterday was the birthday of the beautiful princess, who gave to the school her name. In the big hall on the second floor appropriate exercises were held yesterday morning to commemorate Ka’iulani, the Good.” (Coyney; Pacific Commercial Advertise. October 17, 1900)
The Princess Ka‘iulani, who was the heir apparent to the Hawaiian throne, was born in Honolulu, October 16, 1875. Her father was Archibald S. Cleghorn, a Scotchman, and ex-Governor of the Island of Oahu. Her mother was the Princess Miriam Likelike, sister of the late King Kalākaua and of the present Queen Liliuokalani.” (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, October 17, 1900)
Ka‘iulani’s mother passed away when she was just 11 years old. “The Princess was sent to England to be educated, when but fourteen years of age. There she had the best advantages and was cordially received into London society, even royalty taking an Interest in her.”
“It was while studying there, March 9, 1891, that she was proclaimed heir apparent to the throne by Queen Liliuokalani …” It was some time during 1893 she visited the United States. Later on she returned to England, where she was received with open arms.”
“She revisited the States in 1897, and then came home. Her father built her a beautiful residence in Waikiki, ‘Āinahau. Here she lived quietly and simply …”
“After annexation she dropped her title, becoming plain Miss Cleghorn. She was active in the work of the Hawaiian Relief Society, the Red Cross Society and all matters relating to charity. She rests in the company of the King of her race and lies entombed in their mausoleum.” (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, October 17, 1900)
Kaiulani died unexpectedly on March 6, 1899 at the young age of 23. It was said that her peacocks cried out with sadness the day she passed away. That same year, a new school was opened in Kalihi-Palama and was named Princess Victoria Ka’iulani Elementary School. (Princess Ka‘iulani School)
“The Princess Ka‘iulani School opened for its scholars this morning.” (The Independent, April 25, 1899)
“The Princess Kaiulani school in Palama opened yesterday morning with a full attendance. The preparatory work of organizing the classes and getting under way was accomplished. Today the regular school work will go on.”
“Principal Armstrong Smith has compiled the following statistics from the records of the first day’s total attendance of 297.” (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, April 26, 1899)
“The school aim is to prepare these children, not for colleges, but for life. They are taught to honor labor. As Miss Felker quoted:
‘The man who earns by honest labor. The daily food which nature needs. Is not beneath his lordly neighbor. Whom the golden spoon of fortune feeds.’” (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, October 17, 1900)
Every year on or near October 16th, Ka‘iulani’s birthday, the school celebrates and honors Ka‘iulani in song and dance. The Royal Hawaiian Band joins them at their outdoor stage for this special event. (Princess Ka‘iulani School)
A cutting of Ka‘iulani’s banyan was taken from her home, ‘Āinahau, and given to the school when it opened in 1899.
“On Wednesday, October 13, 1930, the anniversary of the birthday of Princess Ka‘iulani, a bronze tablet, placed on the banyan tree at ‘Āinahau, Waikiki, was unveiled with appropriate ceremonies.” (The Friend, June 1, 1934)
Apparently, the tablet was later moved to the Ka‘iulani School and placed under the banyan tree there. It reads: “This tablet was placed by the Daughters of Hawai‘i in memory of Princess Ka’iulani 1875-1899.”
“‘The daughter of a double race, her islands here, in southern sun, shall mourn their Ka‘iulani gone. And I, in her dear banyan shade, look vainly for my little maid.’ Written to Ka‘iulani by Robert Louis Stevenson who often sat here with her.”
“Historic ʻĀinahau, at Waikiki, was totally destroyed by fire August 2d (1921,) together with most of its furniture and fittings, on which $15,000 insurance was carried.” (Thrum)
“Historic ʻĀinahau, home of the wide lanais and lofty palms, rendezvous of Honolulu society in the reign of King Kalākaua, and haunt of Robert Louis Stevenson in his Hawaiian days, is gone. “
“The age old coconut trees which surrounded the famous palace were torches of remembrance, flaming high into the tropic night long after ʻĀinahau had become only a ghost among its glowing embers, but today they are charred stumps around blackened ruins.”
“Cleghorn, who survived both Princess Miriam Likelike and their daughter, died only a few years ago. His wish was that the estate might be preserved to posterity as a public monument, but the government did not see fit to accept the gift, and the property was cut up into building lots.”
“The palace itself, after a brief career as a hotel, passed into the hands of WF Aldrich, the moving picture producer, who, with his wife, “Peggy” Aldrich, had a rather close call last night when the place burned.” (Gessler, The Step Ladder, October 1921)
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