Princess Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawānanakoa, born on April 23, 1926, was often regarded as the "Last Hawaiian Princess" due to her royal lineage and her prominent role in preserving Hawaiʻi’s cultural heritage. As a direct descendant of King David Kalākaua, Hawaiʻi’s last reigning monarch, and Queen Kapiʻolani, Kawānanakoa carried the legacy of Hawaiʻi's royal family into the modern era. She was a great-granddaughter of James Campbell, one of Hawaiʻi’s wealthiest landowners, making her an heiress to a vast fortune that she used to support Native Hawaiian causes throughout her life.
Raised primarily by her grandmother, Princess Abigail Wahiʻikaʻahuʻula Campbell Kawānanakoa, Abigail was instilled with a strong sense of cultural pride and responsibility to her Hawaiian roots. Her education took her from prestigious schools in Hawaiʻi to Dominican College in California, after which she returned to the islands and began a life dedicated to philanthropy, cultural, and LGBTQ+ advocacy and rights.
As a wealthy heiress, Kawānanakoa donated generously to projects focused on Native Hawaiian arts, culture, and education. Her support for the restoration of ‘Iolani Palace, the former residence of Hawaiian royalty, was particularly notable, as was her involvement in preserving historic sites, artifacts, and practices vital to the Hawaiian community.
In an interview with Honolulu Magazine in 2017, she stated, "We have a rich history, a rich culture, and a rich people. It's up to us to keep that alive, and it's up to us to instill it in our young people." She went on to say that the aliʻi have a responsibility to help preserve the Hawaiian culture and promote Hawaiian values.
In addition to these enormous contributions, Princess Kawānanakoa’s life was significant for her visibility and support within the LGBTQ+ community. Although her sexuality was private for much of her life, her long-term relationship with Veronica Gail Worth became more publicly recognized in her later years. In 2017, Kawānanakoa married Worth, which was a landmark moment for LGBTQ+ visibility, especially in the context of Hawaiian royalty and tradition. As a high-profile figure who was part of the LGBTQ+ community, Kawānanakoa provided representation and a sense of solidarity to LGBTQ+ Hawaiians who often faced social stigma and discrimination.
Her marriage to Worth came three years after Hawaiʻi legalized same-sex marriage, which was celebrated as a step toward equality in the state. For many, Kawānanakoa's marriage represented a powerful statement of personal identity and acceptance, especially as she remained deeply connected to Hawaiʻi’s conservative royal and cultural institutions. In a state where Native Hawaiian culture and identity play a central role in public life, her marriage resonated as an acknowledgment of LGBTQ+ rights within these contexts, symbolizing progress in a community rooted in tradition.
Beyond her marriage, Kawānanakoa used her influence and resources to support LGBTQ+ rights and social issues, contributing to organizations that advocated for equality and justice. Her openness about her sexuality, while remaining committed to her cultural duties, offered an example of how tradition and modern values could coexist harmoniously. She showed that an individual could honor ancestral responsibilities while embracing personal identity and change, bridging the gap between past and present.
Kawānanakoa’s passing in December 2022 marked the end of an era for Hawaiʻi’s royal lineage, but her legacy lives on as a cherished cultural and social figure. Her philanthropy, dedication to preserving Hawaiian heritage, and her place as a prominent LGBTQ+ figure in the Hawaiian community have left an indelible impact. Through her life and actions, she demonstrated how the legacies of royalty, culture, and personal identity can be woven together to serve both history and progress, inspiring future generations to embrace their heritage and advocate for equality.
Story assembled by Joe Wilson.
Images Credits:
Banner - The Office of HRH Princess Abigail Kawananakoa
Image 1 - Bishop Museum
Images 2, 3, 4, 5 - The Office of HRH Princess Abigail Kawananakoa
Video - Hawaiʻi News Now