Elizabeth Kekaaniau
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Kekaaniau Laanui Pratt or Elizabeth Kekaikuihala Kekaaniauokalani Kalaninuiohilaukapu Laanui (1834–1928) was a great grandniece of Kamehameha I
, being a great granddaughter of Prince Kalokuokamaile
, the older brother of Kamehameha I, founder of the Kingdom of Hawaii
.
placed her in the Chiefs' Children's School, also known as the Royal School, a select school for the children of the highest rank in the kingdom who eligible to be rulers. She was taught by missionaries Juliette Montague and Amos Starr Cooke
. Her cousins Princess Emma
(later Queen consort) and Bernice Pauahi
, called her Lizzie.
Her father was High Chief Gideon Peleioholani Laanui
who escaped the slaughter of Kawaihae when Keoua Kuahuula was killed. Her mother was High Chiefess Theresa Owana Kaheiheimalie Rives, a relative of Queen Kaahumanu and daughter of Kamehameha II
's French Secretary Jean Baptiste Rives
. Through her father's first marriage to Lydia Namahana
, she was the step-niece of Queen Kaahumanu.
She married Franklin Seaver Pratt April 27, 1864. He served on the staff of King Kamehameha V
, and then various functions under King Kalākaua
and Queen Liliuokalani, including Consul General, stationed San Francisco, for the Pacific states of Oregon
, Washington, California
and Nevada
, at the time of the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1893. They did not have any children of their own, although they adopted her niece, Theresa Laanui
, daughter of her brother Gideon Laanui II
, when he died in 1871.
She claimed that on his death bed, King Kamehameha V asked her to be his successor. She declined, as did Princess Bernice Pauahi. Princess Elizabeth was the last survivor of the Royal School. She outlived the entire House of Kalākaua
, and was the only surviving relative Royal School alumnus to live into the 20th century. She died at the age of 94 in Honolulu, Oahu
on December 20, 1928.
In her 80s, Princess Elizabeth wrote a book, Keoua Father of Kings, as a tribute to her great-grandfather Keōua Kalanikupuapaikalaninui
and his son, Kamehameha I. It was republished in 1999 by her great-great nephew, David Castro. It was republished again in 2009.
She died December 20, 1928.
Kamehameha I
Kamehameha I , also known as Kamehameha the Great, conquered the Hawaiian Islands and formally established the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1810. By developing alliances with the major Pacific colonial powers, Kamehameha preserved Hawaii's independence under his rule...
, being a great granddaughter of Prince Kalokuokamaile
Kalokuokamaile
Kalokuokamaile , was a Hawaiian chief and first-born son of Keoua Kalanikupuapaikalaninui and half-brother of Kamehameha the Great who unified the Hawaiian Islands in 1810. He was the progenitor of the House of Kalokuokamaile.- Biography :He was born on the island of Maui...
, the older brother of Kamehameha I, founder of the Kingdom of Hawaii
Kingdom of Hawaii
The Kingdom of Hawaii was established during the years 1795 to 1810 with the subjugation of the smaller independent chiefdoms of Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lānai, Kauai and Niihau by the chiefdom of Hawaii into one unified government...
.
Life
She was born September 12, 1834 in her family home at Waialua. She was given the name Elizabeth after her mother's adoptive mother Queen Elizabeth Kaahumanu, and the Hawaiian name after Chiefess Kekaikuihala, her father's older sister. Her full name was Elizabeth Kekaikuihala Kekaaniauokalani Kalaninuiohilaukapu Laanui. She was 10 years old when Kamehameha IIIKamehameha III
Kamehameha III was the King of Hawaii from 1825 to 1854. His full Hawaiian name was Keaweaweula Kiwalao Kauikeaouli Kaleiopapa and then lengthened to Keaweaweula Kiwalao Kauikeaouli Kaleiopapa Kalani Waiakua Kalanikau Iokikilo Kiwalao i ke kapu Kamehameha when he ascended the throne.Under his...
placed her in the Chiefs' Children's School, also known as the Royal School, a select school for the children of the highest rank in the kingdom who eligible to be rulers. She was taught by missionaries Juliette Montague and Amos Starr Cooke
Amos Starr Cooke
Amos Starr Cooke was an educator and businessman in the Kingdom of Hawaii. He was patriarch of a family that influenced Hawaii during the 20th century.-Life:Amos Starr Cooke was born in Danbury, Connecticut, December 1, 1810....
. Her cousins Princess 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....
(later Queen consort) and Bernice Pauahi
Bernice Pauahi Bishop
Bernice Pauahi Bishop , born Bernice Pauahi Pākī, was a Hawaiian princess, philanthropist, alii, and direct descendant of the royal House of Kamehameha. She was the great-granddaughter of King Kamehameha I and last surviving heir...
, called her Lizzie.
Her father was High Chief Gideon Peleioholani Laanui
Gideon Peleioholani Laanui
Gideon Peleioholani Laanui was a Hawaiian chief who was grandnephew of Kamehameha the Great who unified the Hawaiian Islands in 1810. From him descends the House of Laanui.-Early life:...
who escaped the slaughter of Kawaihae when Keoua Kuahuula was killed. Her mother was High Chiefess Theresa Owana Kaheiheimalie Rives, a relative of Queen Kaahumanu and daughter of Kamehameha II
Kamehameha II
Kamehameha II was the second king of the Kingdom of Hawaii. His birth name was Liholiho and full name was Kalaninui kua Liholiho i ke kapu Iolani...
's French Secretary Jean Baptiste Rives
Jean Baptiste Rives
Jean Baptiste Rives was a French adventurer who served in the court of the Kingdom of Hawaii. His first name was sometimes spelled John and last name Reeves by English speakers. Some sources give other middle names.-Life:...
. Through her father's first marriage to Lydia Namahana
Namahana Piia
Lydia Namahana Piia was a wife of King Kamehameha I of Hawaii. She was the daughter of Keeaumoku Pāpaiahiahi, and her sister Kaʻahumanu was also Kamehameha's wife. Kamehameha and Kaʻahumanu later arranged Piia to marry Gideon Peleioholani Laanui, who was ten years her junior...
, she was the step-niece of Queen Kaahumanu.
She married Franklin Seaver Pratt April 27, 1864. He served on the staff of King Kamehameha V
Kamehameha V
aloghaKamehameha V , born as Lot Kapuāiwa, reigned as monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii from 1863 to 1872. His motto was "Onipa`a": immovable, firm, steadfast or determined; he worked diligently for his people and kingdom and was described as the last great traditional chief...
, and then various functions under King Kalākaua
Kalakaua
Kalākaua, born David Laamea Kamanakapuu Mahinulani Nalaiaehuokalani Lumialani Kalākaua and sometimes called The Merrie Monarch , was the last reigning king of the Kingdom of Hawaii...
and Queen Liliuokalani, including Consul General, stationed San Francisco, for the Pacific states of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, Washington, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, at the time of the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1893. They did not have any children of their own, although they adopted her niece, Theresa Laanui
Theresa Laanui
Theresa Owana Kaohelelani Laanui was a member of the royal family during the last years of the Kingdom of Hawaii and into the territorial period.-Life:...
, daughter of her brother Gideon Laanui II
Gideon Kailipalaki Laanui
Gideon Kailipalaki-o-Keheananui Laanui was a great grandnephew of Kamehameha the Great, being a great grandson of Prince Kalokuokamaile, the eldest brother of Kamehameha the Great. He was a member of the royal House of Laanui, a collateral branch of the House of Kamehameha.-Life:He was born in...
, when he died in 1871.
She claimed that on his death bed, King Kamehameha V asked her to be his successor. She declined, as did Princess Bernice Pauahi. Princess Elizabeth was the last survivor of the Royal School. She outlived the entire House of Kalākaua
House of Kalakaua
The House of Kalākaua, or the Kalākaua Dynasty, was the reigning family of the Kingdom of Hawaii between the assumption of King David Kalākaua to the throne in 1874 and the overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani in 1893. Liliuokalani died in 1917, leaving only cousins as heirs...
, and was the only surviving relative Royal School alumnus to live into the 20th century. She died at the age of 94 in Honolulu, Oahu
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
on December 20, 1928.
In her 80s, Princess Elizabeth wrote a book, Keoua Father of Kings, as a tribute to her great-grandfather Keōua Kalanikupuapaikalaninui
Keoua
Keōua Kalanikupuapaikalaninui Ahilapalapa, sometimes called Keōua Nui , was an Ancient Hawaiian noble and the father of Kamehameha I, the first King of united Hawaii...
and his son, Kamehameha I. It was republished in 1999 by her great-great nephew, David Castro. It was republished again in 2009.
She died December 20, 1928.