Princess Miriam Likelike

Princess Miriam Likelike Kekāuluohi Keahelapalapa Kapili (January 13, 1851 – February 2, 1887) was a prominent figure in the Hawaiian Kingdom, a member of the reigning House of Kalākaua, and a key contributor to Hawaiian culture. Born in Honolulu on the island of Oʻahu, she was the daughter of Analea Keohokālole and Caesar Kapaʻakea, members of the aliʻi, the Hawaiian nobility. Her family had deep roots in Hawaiian royalty, being collateral relatives of the reigning House of Kamehameha and descended from Keaweʻīkekahialiʻiokamoku, an 18th-century supreme monarch. Her siblings included King Kalākaua and Queen Liliʻuokalani, making her a pivotal member of the royal family during a transformative period in Hawaiian history.

Likelike's early life was marked by the Hawaiian custom of hānai, an informal adoption within extended families. Due to health issues, she was sent to the Kona district on the island of Hawaiʻi to benefit from its dry climate. She later returned to Honolulu and received a comprehensive education at several prestigious institutions, including the Sacred Hearts Convent and School, the Makiki Family School, and the Kawaiahaʻo Seminary for Girls. Her education under both Catholic and Congregationalist teachers provided her with a broad perspective on both Hawaiian and Western cultures. She was particularly close to her older sister, Liliʻuokalani, who served as a mentor and guide throughout her life.

In 1870, at the age of 19, Likelike married Archibald Scott Cleghorn, a Scottish businessman nearly twice her age. Their union produced one child, the beloved Princess Kaʻiulani, who was born in 1875 and became the last heir to the Hawaiian throne. The family resided at the ʻĀinahau estate in Waikīkī, a gift from Princess Ruth Keʻelikōlani to her goddaughter Kaʻiulani. ʻĀinahau became a center of social and cultural life, where Likelike was known for her gracious hospitality and keen sense of fashion, often importing the latest styles from San Francisco and Paris. Despite the glamour, her marriage to Cleghorn was not without its challenges, as his Victorian sensibilities sometimes clashed with her royal upbringing.

Likelike played an active role in the political and public life of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Following her brother Kalākaua's accession to the throne in 1874, she was granted the title of Princess. From 1879 to 1880, she served as the Governor of the island of Hawaiʻi, demonstrating her leadership and commitment to her people. She was also a philanthropist, supporting various causes and contributing to the welfare of her community. Her travels, including a trip to San Francisco, broadened her horizons and reinforced her status as a cosmopolitan royal.

Princess Likelike was a talented musician and composer, and she is recognized as one of the Na Lani ʻEhā (The Heavenly Four), along with her siblings Kalākaua, Liliʻuokalani, and Leleiohoku II. They are celebrated for their patronage and enrichment of Hawaiian musical culture. Likelike's compositions, which include the famous song "ʻĀinahau," reflect her love for her home and her deep connection to Hawaiian traditions. Her contributions helped to preserve and promote Hawaiian music during a time of increasing foreign influence.

Princess Likelike's life was cut short when she died under mysterious circumstances on February 2, 1887, at the age of 36. At the time, there were rumors that she had been "prayed to death" by a kahuna ʻanāʻanā (a sorcerer who practiced death prayers). Her death was a great loss to the Hawaiian people and the royal family. She was given a state funeral and was buried at the Mauna ʻAla Royal Mausoleum.

Today, Princess Miriam Likelike is remembered for her contributions to Hawaiian culture, her role in the royal family, and as the mother of the beloved Princess Kaʻiulani. Her legacy lives on through her music and the places that bear her name, including the Likelike Highway on Oʻahu. She remains a significant figure in Hawaiian history, a symbol of the grace, talent, and resilience of the aliʻi.