'Last Hawaiian princess' Abigail Kawānanakoa dies with $215m in wealth

Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawānanakoa, Hawaii's alleged "last princess", has passed distant aged 96.

The royal, known to her friends arsenic Kekau, was 1 of the past surviving links to the royal household deposed by US industrialists and was celebrated for her philanthropic enactment of accepted Hawaiian culture.

The heiress died peacefully astatine location successful Honolulu connected Sunday with her woman by her side, according to a connection released by Iolani Palace, the historical location of the royal household - and America's lone royal residence.

"Abigail volition beryllium remembered for her emotion of Hawai'i and its people," said her wife, Veronica Gail Kawānanakoa. "I volition miss her with each of my heart."

No origin of decease has yet been given.

Abigail Kawānanakoa was calved successful Honolulu successful 1926 and aboriginal attended schoolhouse successful Shanghai and California.

Her large wealth, which is estimated to beryllium $215m (£175m) and was held successful trust, came from her great-grandfather, James Campbell, an Irish businessman who owned a sweetener plantation.

His girl joined Prince David Kawānanakoa, who was 3rd successful enactment for the throne of the Kingdom of Hawaii erstwhile the royal household was overthrown by American businessmen successful 1893.

At the time, the relation of US nationals successful the coup was controversial, and President Grover Cleveland describing their engagement successful the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy an "embarrassment".

After the prince's decease successful 1908, his widow adopted their grandchild done the accepted Hawaiian customized of 'hānai', which strengthened Abigail's assertion to the informal rubric of princess.

While immoderate genealogists claimed that Princess Kawānanakoa had the strongest royal ties to Hawaii, a abstracted offshoot of the erstwhile royal household claims that Princess Owana Ka'ohelelani is the rightful caput of the modern-day dynasty.

Mrs Kawānanakoa herself admitted successful a 2021 interrogation with Honolulu Magazine that had the monarchy survived, her relative Edward Kawānanakoa would person been successful enactment to regularisation up of her, based connected the rules of succession.

"Of people I would beryllium the powerfulness down the throne, there's nary question astir that," she joked successful the interview.

Among her acts of philanthropy, Mrs Kawānanakoa funded scholarships for indigenous Hawaiians and contributed to the upkeep of Iolani Palace, which is present a museum.

The Abigail KK Kawananakoa Foundation, which was acceptable up successful 2001, enactment speech $100m (£81m) of her wealthiness to enactment autochthonal Hawaiian causes upon her death, according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

Friends besides praised her consciousness of mischief, and she was known to trial spiritual leaders for offering them ample sums of wealth - sometimes successful speech for outrageous demands.

Jim Wright, who was her idiosyncratic lawyer since 1998, recalled that she erstwhile agreed to a petition from the Catholic Diocese of Honolulu of $100,000 (£81,281). She agreed to marque the payment, but lone if she could get a photograph of Pope Benedict XVI accepting her check.

Hawaii's governor, Josh Green, was among those to wage tribute to Mrs Kawānanakoa, saying helium and his woman were "deeply saddened" by the loss.

"Abigail bore the value of her presumption with dignity and humility, enriched the lives of everyone she touched, and similar truthful galore Aliʻi who came earlier her, she has near a bequest dedicated to her radical successful perpetuity."

He had ordered that flags beryllium flown astatine fractional mast for the remainder of Sunday successful her honour.

However, Hawaiian activistic Walter Ritte has told section media that her interaction connected indigenous civilization was minimal.

"We didn't rather recognize what her relation was and however she could assistance us," helium is quoted arsenic saying.

But Senator Jarrett Keohokalole and Representative Daniel Holt, leaders of the US legislature's Hawaiian members, hailed her generosity and contributions, which they said had greatly aided the island's civilization and community.

Her ain views connected the substance were clear, and successful a tribunal quality successful 2019 implicit the absorption of her wealth, she told the justice that "heritage dictates that I indispensable instrumentality attraction of the Hawaiian people".