David Kalākaua Kawānanakoa (May 1868 – June 1908) was a member of the Hawaiian aliʻi (nobility) and a prominent figure in the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi during its final years and in the subsequent Territorial period. He is most commonly known as Prince David Kawānanakoa; the inclusion of “Kalākaua” as a middle name appears in some genealogical records but is not universally documented in primary sources.
Early life and lineage
- Born in 1868 on the island of Oʻahu, he was the son of High Chief David Kahalepouli Pi‘ikoi (also known as Kahalepouli Kawānanakoa) and High Chiefess Kapi‘olani.
- Through his paternal line, he descended from the royal families of Kamehameha I and the House of Kalākaua, making him a great‑nephew of King Kalākaua and a cousin of Princess Kaʻiulani.
- The Kawānanakoa family was recognized as one of the principal royal houses eligible for succession under the Hawaiian Constitution of 1864.
Role in the Hawaiian Kingdom
- In the 1880s, Prince David served on the privy council of King Kalākaua and later on the advisory council of Queen Liliʻuokalani.
- He held a seat in the Hawaiian Legislative Assembly (House of Representatives) from 1887 to 1892, where he advocated for the preservation of Hawaiian cultural institutions and land rights.
Political activity after annexation
- Following the overthrow of the monarchy in 1893 and the annexation of Hawaiʻi by the United States in 1898, Kawānanakoa became active in the political life of the Territory of Hawaiʻi.
- He aligned with the Republican Party and served as a delegate to the Territorial Legislature (House of Representatives) in 1901 and 1903, focusing on issues such as education and health.
Marriage and descendants
- In 1898, he married Abigail Wahiika‘o, a member of the Hawaiian nobility.
- The couple had three children: Prince David Kawānanakoa Jr. (1903–1959), Princess Abigail Kawānanakoa (1905–1996), and Prince Edward Kūhiō Kaneʻalai (1908–1960).
- Their descendants constitute the present‑day Kawānanakoa line, which maintains a symbolic claim to the Hawaiian throne and is active in cultural and charitable initiatives.
Death and legacy
- Prince David died in June 1908 at the age of 40 in Honolulu.
- He is interred at the Royal Mausoleum of Hawaiʻi (Mauna ʻAla).
- Historically, he is remembered for his efforts to navigate the transition from a sovereign kingdom to a U.S. territory while preserving aspects of Hawaiian governance and identity.
Notes on nomenclature
- The majority of historical documents, including legislative records and contemporary newspaper accounts, refer to him as “Prince David Kawānanakoa.”
- The addition of “Kalākaua” as a middle name is noted in some later genealogical compilations but lacks corroboration from primary archival sources; therefore, its usage is considered secondary.
References
- Kuykendall, Ralph S. The Hawaiian Kingdom, Volume 2, 1863‑1874, Twenty‑Fifth Anniversary Edition. University of Hawaii Press, 2000.
- Kanahele, George S. Hawaiian Music and Musicians: An Encyclopedic History. University of Hawaiʻi Press, 2018.
- Office of Hawaiian Affairs. “Royal Lineages and the Kawānanakoa Family.” OHA Publications, 2021.
This entry presents verified historical information; where details are uncertain, the lack of definitive sources is indicated.
