Miriam Likelike Kek?uluohi Keahelapalapa Kapili (January 13, 1851 - February 2, 1887) was a Princess of the Kingdom of Hawai?i, sister of the last two ruling monarchs, mother of Princess Ka?iulani, last heir to the throne, and mistress of the ??inahau estate. She shared the same name with Likelike, an earlier Hawaiian chiefess.
Video Likelike
Life
She was born January 13, 1851 in Honolulu, O?ahu. Her mother was High Chiefess Analea Keohok?lole and father was High Chief Caesar Kaluaiku Kapa?akea. She was the youngest sister of James Kaliokalani, David Kal?kaua, Lydia Lili?uokalani, Kaimina?auao and Anna Ka?iulani, and the older sister of William Pitt Leleiohoku II. Because Likelike was not in the best of health as a child, she was sent to live in the dry climate of Kona on the island of Hawaii where she was h?nai to a chiefly couple there. Like many of her siblings, she was most likely given in h?nai to a family in Kona. At the age of 6, she returned to Honolulu and remained there until her marriage. Originally betrothed to Albert K. Kunuiakea, an illegitimate son of Kamehameha III, she broke off the engagement to marry someone else.
On September 22, 1870 she married Archibald Scott Cleghorn, a businessman from Scotland almost twice her age. The wedding was at her sister's house, Washington Place. Archibald was 35 and Likelike was 19. Like her sister Lydia's marriage to John Owen Dominis, her marriage with Cleghorn did not always run smoothly. Victorian gentlemen expected to be the lord of their castle, their servants, their children, and even their wives. But Hawaiian nobility, ali?i, male or female, were raised to rule others. Her husband could be blustery and demanding. The princess simply returned to Big Island of Hawaii and refused to come back. She even served as Governor of the island from March 1879 to September 1880.
In August 1883 she wrote the strongest letter to her husband from her Big Island retreat:
You always blame me in everything and I am getting tired of it. I will have to kill myself then you won't have me to growl at all the time. I think we are better separated...as you don't love me and I don't love you so I will simply say, 'God bless the good.
As dramatic as the letter sounds, she returned to O?ahu. She gave birth to a daughter, Princess Ka?iulani, 5 years after their marriage, who would be the only Kal?kaua of her generation. In June 1877, two years after her daughter Ka?iulani's birth, Likelike had a miscarriage while on a ship headed toward San Francisco, California. She would never conceive another child. From that time Ka?iulani became the focus her life and the future of the kingdom she might one day inherit. As Ka?iulani's mother she could be willful at times. In an early "thank you" note to her godmother, Princess Ruth Ke?elik?lani, Ka?iulani wrote:
Dear Mama Nui,
Thank you for the nice hat you sent me. It fits so nicely Mama wanted it, but I would not let her have it. Thank you for the corn and watermelons, they do taste so good. Are you well? With much love from your little girl, Ka?iulani.
PS. I want you to give Miss Barnes (her governess) a native name
Not surprisingly another letter followed, the angry Ka?iulani wrote:
Dear Mama Nui,
I want another hat. Mama Likelike has taken the one you sent me. Are you better now? When are you coming coming home? With much love. From your little girl, Ka?iulani.
Likelike was third-in-line to the throne behind her brother William Pitt Leleiohoku II and her sister Lili?uokalani until Leleiohoku's death which elevated her to second-in-line to the throne and her daughter as third-in-line.
Likelike was vivacious and well-liked, and her home was opened to important people from all over the world. She had a reputation of being a kindly, gracious hostess in almost every country of Europe and almost every state of the union. She would always be up with the latest fashions, ordering dresses and clothing from Paris. Princess Likelike, Lili?uokalani, Leleiohoku and Kal?kaua were known as "Hawaii's First Family of Musicians." She could be quite imperious and quick-tempered. For example, she once smacked a groom with a whip for not keeping the carriage properly polished.
The cause of the princess' death is still unknown; she is said to have simply taken to her bed and refused all food. In mid January 1887, a large school of fish called '?weoweo was seen off the coast of the island of Hawaii. The massing of the bright red fish close to shore was considered an omen of death for members an ali?i family. On February 2, 1887, Princess Likelike died at age 36, before her daughter reached her teenage years. Some people have asserted that she did this to appease the anger of Pele, goddess of volcanoes. It was said in her last hours she predicted that Ka?iulani would never marry and never become Queen. This prophecy later became true. There were rumors that she was prayed to death by a powerful ?an??an?.
Maps Likelike
Legacy
Likelike Highway, historic Likelike Drive Inn and Likelike Elementary School bear the late princess' name.
Compositions
- ?Âinahau
- Aloha No Au I Ko Maka
- Maikai Waipio' (Beautiful Waipio)
- Ahe Lau Makani (There is a Breath), 1868, Kapoli and Lili?uokalani share credit
- Kuu Ipo Ika Hee Pueone
- Thou E Ka Nani Mae 'Ole (Thou Art the Never Fading Beauty) for which her sister Lili?uokalani shares credit
Ancestry
References
- Linnea, Sharon, Princess Ka'iulani: Hope of a Nation, Heart of a People, Eerdmans Books for Young, 1999, ISBN 0-8028-5088-X
External links
- Our Beloved Princess Miriam Kekauluo'hi Likelike
- Miriam Likelike (1851-1887)
- Hawaiian Princess Miriam Likelike, Mother of Crown Princess Kaiulani
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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