Princess Victoria Kaʻiulani Kawēkiulani Lunalilo Kalaninuiahilapalapa
Cover Image: Masthead of Ka Nupepa Kuokoa published on October 23, 1875.
This week Thursday, the 16th of October will be the 150th birthday of Princess Kaʻiulani! This birth announcement from a newspaper gives an idea of how anticipated the birth was.

Image: Infant portrait of Kaʻiulani, ca. 1875. Bishop Museum Archives, SP 41533.
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Image: “Ke kama Aliiwahine opio hou loa,” Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, October 23, 1875, p. 2.
The newest young Princess.
We are filled with joy to be the ones to tell the news in which all of Hawaiʻi nei will rejoice, whereas at 9:15 in the morning of this past Saturday, October 16, born here in Honolulu was Princess Victoria Kaʻiulani Cleghorn
To
Like a kāhuli snail of changing colors in the sun
Are the bright flats sparkling at Maukele
You are so slow in your dallying
The dallying of the one to whom belongs the canoe
It is you and they depart.”—
she being the chiefly daughter of the Aliʻi C. Kapaʻakea and A. Keohokālole who passed without carrying in their arms a grandchild, and the chiefess of Chief ʻAke1 of this town.
It is something that will fill the royalist makaʻāinana with boundless delight and happiness for the birth of this new aliʻi. And this gives them a feeling of satisfaction that the royal progeny in power will be rehabilitated and multiply. This is the very first child born of any child of Keoho’s royal offspring who survive, therefore, their royal child will become for all of them a favorite second to none
We pray for the patience and benevolence of the Heavens, to watch over her in her youth, and to extend her days; and of her royal mother, to produce many more royal children.
1ʻAke is Hawaiian for Archie, as in Archibald Cleghorn.
The following two undated letters were written by Kaʻiulani to her godmother, Keʻelikōlani, sometime after the arrival of Marion Barnes (April 17, 1878) and before her unexpected death (March 3, 1884).

Image: First page of undated letter from Kaʻiulani to Mama Nui [Keʻelikōlani]. Bishop Museum Archives, GENLTRS 4.39.1, p. 1.
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Dear Mama Nui2
Thank you
for the nice hat
you sent me.
it fits me so nicely
Mama3 wanted
it but I would

Image: Second page of undated letter from Kaʻiulani to Mama Nui [Keʻelikōlani]. Bishop Museum Archives, GENLTRS 4.39.1, p. 2.
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not let her
have it.
Thank you for
the corn andwater musk melons they
do taste so good.
Are you well
With much
love to you
From your

Image: Third page of undated letter from Kaʻiulani to Mama Nui [Keʻelikōlani]. Bishop Museum Archives, GENLTRS 4.39.1, p. 3.
Image sharing on social media is welcome. For all other uses please contact Archives@BishopMuseum.org
little girl
Kaiulani
I want you to
give Miss Barnes4
a native
name
2Keʻelikōlani, godmother of Kaʻiulani
3Kaʻiulani’s mother, Likelike
4Marion Barnes, governess of Kaʻiulani

Image: Undated letter from Kaʻiulani to Mama Nui [Keʻelikōlani]. Bishop Museum Archives, GENLTRS 4.39.2, p. 1.
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Dear mama nui
I want another hat
mama Likelike has
taken the hat you sent
me Are you better now
When are you coming
home With much love
From your little girl
Kaiulani
This post is part of He Aupuni Palapala: Preserving and Digitizing the Hawaiian Language Newspapers, a partnership between Bishop Museum and Awaiaulu with assistance from Kamehameha Schools. Mahalo nui loa to Hawaii Tourism Authority for their support. Learn more about this project here.