MEDIA RELEASE

Kailua Village’s monthly Kokua Kailua takes place 1-6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16 along Alii Drive.

Residents and visitors may stroll Alii Drive, which is converted during Kokua Kailua into a festive pedestrian-only walkway. The atmosphere at Kokua Kailua is always celebratory as vendors and merchants line the oceanfront walkway with crafts, fresh foods, art, and a variety of merchandise and strollers find unique goods and tasty foods.

There is live music during Kokua Kailua and at 4 p.m., an afternoon of free music on the lawn at Hulihee Palace creates the perfect excuse to relax and enjoy.

PALACE CONCERT REMEMBERS PEOPLE’S PRINCESS

The Daughters of Hawaii and Calabash Cousins present a hula afternoon 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16 at Hulihee Palace to honor the late Princess Kaiulani, who is fondly remembered as the “People’s Princess.”

Enjoy the voices of the Merrie Monarchs and Hawaiian performing arts by Kumu Hula Etua Lopes and his Halau Na Pua Ui O Hawaii.

Kindly bring a beach mat or chair as seating won’t be provided.

Princess Victoria Kawekiu Lunalilo Kalaninuiahilapalapa Kaiulani was the last heir to the Hawaiian throne. Born in 1875 to Princess Miriam Likelike, she was the niece of King Kalakaua.

Her father was a Scotsman named Archibald Cleghorn, who was a governor of Oahu. The young princess, who was fond of peacocks, lived in Waikiki at the garden estate of Ainahau. Today, it is the present location of the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani Hotel.

A fellow Scot, Robert Lewis Stevenson, became friends with Princess Kaiulani and he wrote numerous poems about his “fair maiden.” Known for her grace and hospitality, Kaiulani traveled abroad and studied in London as a teenager. Though a long way from Hawaii, she soon found herself in the fight to save the monarchy from American annexationists.

Kaiulani went to Washington and visited President Grover Cleveland and his wife to plead her cause. Enchanted by the young, beautiful and fashionable Kaiulani, President Cleveland sent a personal representative to Hawaii to report on the political situation.

Kaiulani’s aunt, Queen Liliuokalani, and others suggested the princess choose a husband to help Hawaii’s political situation: the nephew of the Emperor of Japan or her Hawaiian cousin, Prince David Kawananakoa.

Bitter and disillusioned, Kaiulani realized her chance at the throne was gone forever when Hawaii officially became part of the U.S. in August 1898.

A few months later, after attending a wedding at Parker Ranch, Kaiulani got caught in a cold, cutting “Waimea rain” and the princess became seriously ill. Her father came to the Big Island with the family doctor and Kaiulani improved at Mana enough to be carried by litter to a ship bound for Honolulu.

Back at Ainahau, her illness persisted, worsened and she died in two months; Kaiulani was 23 years old.

Hulihee Palace is open for self-guided tours 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturdays. Palace admission, which at this time includes a self-guided tour brochure, remains $6 for adults, $4 for seniors and $1 for keiki under 18. Volunteer docents are sometimes available to give guided tours.

For details, contact the palace at 329-1877, the palace office at 329-9555 or visit www.daughtersofhawaii.org. The gift shop can be reached by phoning 329-6558.

Caretakers of Hulihee Palace are the Daughters of Hawaii. The organization was founded in 1903 and opens membership to any woman who is directly descended from a person who lived in Hawaii prior to 1880. Helping the Daughters in its efforts since 1986 are the Calabash Cousins; membership is available to all.

2011 Hulihee Palace Schedule

Nov. 20: Remembering King Kalakaua, Palace Curator Aunty Lei Collins and Bandmaster Charles “Bud” Dant

Dec. 18: Remembering Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop