| Abigail K. K. Kawānanakoa | |
|---|---|
| Pretender | |
| Born | April 23, 1926 Honolulu, Oahu |
| Title(s) | Princess Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawānanakoa |
| Throne(s) claimed | Hawaiʻi |
| Pretend from | 1969 |
| Monarchy abolished | 1893 |
| Last monarch | Liliʻuokalani |
| Connection with | Cousin/Aunt |
| Royal House | Kawānanakoa |
| Father | William Jeremiah Ellerbrock |
| Mother | Princess Lydia Liliuokalani Kawānanakoa |
| Predecessor | Princess Lydia Liliuokalani Kawānanakoa |
Princess Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike III Kawānanakoa (born April 23, 1926) was the only child of Princess Lydia Liliuokalani Kawānanakoa born during her marriage with William Jeremiah Ellerbrock. According to some she became the head of the House of Kawānanakoa upon the death of her mother who succeeded her older brother Edward D. Kawānanakoa on May 20, 1953 while some believe it was her elder sister Princess Abigail Kapiolani Kawānanakoa. The House of Kawānanakoa had split into two by 1953. A rumor claimed Abigail Kapiolani Kawānanakoa's, legitimacy was in question by her father, Prince David Kawānanakoa. Others claim proof she was indeed the blood child of David Kawānanakoa and thus her descendents.[1] Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawānanakoa, known as Kekau, has worked to preserve ʻIolani Palace.
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She was legally adopted by her grandmother Princess Abigail Campbell Kawānanakoa, in the Hawaiian tradition of hānai, at the age of 6. By the adoption she assumed the surname of Kawānanakoa rather than Ellerbrock, the surname of her father. Her aunt Kapiʻolani Kawānanakoa married Andy Lambert and although she divorced him, the only way her offspring Edward (Dudie), Poomaikelani and Kapiolani received the Kawānanakoa name was by their mother going back to her maiden name and her children assumed the maiden name as well. She was educated at Punahou School, in Honolulu, Shanghai American School, in Shanghai, graduated from Notre Dame High School in Belmont, California, Dominican College, in San Rafael, California and the University of Hawaii, in Honolulu, Oahu.
She was the President of the Friends of ʻIolani Palace (1971–1998). The palace was built by her great-granduncle, King David Kalākaua. Her mother was once its former president and the founder of the Friends of Iolani Palace.[2] She took over immediately after her mother's death. She has been active in various causes for the preservation of native Hawaiian culture, including the restoration of ʻIolani Palace.[3] In June 1992, Kawānanakoa pleaded with activists to hold further sovereignty demonstrations away from the palace after 32 demonstrators attempted to enter the building.
She is an expert horsewoman and owner of ranches in Hawaii, California and Washington State. A 20-year cumulative breeder of AQHA quarter horses, her horses’ many victories include the 1993 All American Futurity (G1) with A Classic Dash and the 1995 Los Alamitos Million Futurity (G1, now the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity) with Evening Snow. After winning "the richest race in the quarter horse world", she retired A Classic Dash from racing to stand at her ranch, Lakeview Quarter Horse Ranch in California. ^ Champion of Champions Qualifier Profile : Divide The Cash. [4]
In 1998, Life magazine published a photograph of her sitting on a chair that some readers thought was the 150 year-old throne and thus she was claiming to be Queen. Henry James Bartels, the curator of the palace resigned after criticizing the incident.[5] The thrones in the palace are replicas and the real ones are in Bishop Museum. She is probably Hawaii's most popular Hawaiian royal in her generation.
She never married and is beyond childbearing years. Her claim to the House of Kawānanakoa would legally pass to her first-cousin-once removed, Prince Quentin Kawānanakoa who was groomed by his father Edward to accept this position,[6] but her chosen heir is her adoptive son Prince David Kalākaua Kawānanakoa.
A woman under the name of Abigail Roberts, who according to court documents was born with the name Charlotte Veronica Kuheana, was charged with mail fraud in 2001 by claiming to be the heiress and collecting tax refunds under Kawanānakoa's Social Security Number.[7][8] Roberts' court-appointed attorney said she was suffering from "confused, irrational and obsessive behavior." In 2004, Roberts used the number again and asked for a tax refund of $361, but the Internal Revenue Service sent a check for over $2 million.[9]
She was heiress to the largest stake in the estate of her great-grandfather, James Campbell, a 19th century industrialist from Scotland. When the estate was converted into a corporation in 2007, her share was estimated to be about US$250 million.[10]
Historic Hawai‘i Foundation honored Princess Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawānanakoa as the “2010 Kama‘āina of the Year” on November 6th, 2010. Princess Kawānanakoa was recognized for her contributions and leadership efforts to preserve and restore ‘Iolani Palace. [11]
^ Champion of Champions Qualifier Profile : Divide The Cash. http://www.aqha.com/en/Racing/News-Articles/Champion-of-Champions-Qualifier-Profile-Divide-The-Cash.aspx ^ Kamaaina of the Year. http://www.historichawaii.org/n_02/koy/koy.html
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Princess Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawānanakoa
Born: 20 April 1926 |
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| Titles in pretence | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Princess Lydia Liliʻuokalani Kawānanakoa |
— TITULAR — Queen Regnant of the Hawaiian Islands 1963 – present Reason for succession failure: Kingdom of Hawaii abolished in 1893 |
Disputed |
| Incumbent Heir: Prince David Kalākaua Kawānanakoa or Prince Quentin Kūhiō Kawānanakoa |
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