Painting of Princess Ka’iulani
Princess Ka’iulani was the last heir apparent to the throne of the Hawaiian Kingdom. When she was 13, her mother died, and she was sent to Europe to finish her education. In 1893, Ka’iulani was 17 when the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom occurred. There were pleas from Ka’iulani's father and Sanford B. Dole, the provisional president of Hawaii, to end the takeover of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Queen Lili’uokalani was convinced her best chance at justice for Hawaii was to temporarily relinquish ruling authority to the United States. Ruling power was never returned to Hawaii's constitutional monarchy.