Prince Edward Abnel Keliʻiahonui

Prince Edward Abnel Keliʻiahonui, whose name translates to "the chief whose strength is attained through patience" [2], was a significant figure in the Hawaiian Kingdom during the late 19th century. Born on May 13, 1869, at Kaʻalaʻa in the Pauoa Valley of Honolulu, Oʻahu, he was a member of the esteemed House of Kalākaua [50, 51, 60, 71]. His birth occurred on the old homestead of his aunt, Queen Kapiʻolani, and he was later baptized by Bishop Thomas Nettleship Staley of the St. Andrew\'s Cathedral [71].

Keliʻiahonui\'s lineage was deeply rooted in Hawaiian royalty. His mother was Princess Victoria Kekaulike Kinoiki, sister to Queen Kapiʻolani, and his father was High Chief David Kahalepouli Piʻikoi, a first cousin to King Kalākaua [61, 62, 71]. He was also a great-grandson of Kaumualiʻi, the last ruling King of Kauaʻi, and shared his name with his great-uncle Kealiʻiahonui, sometimes referred to as the last prince of Kauaʻi [71]. In accordance with the Hawaiian tradition of *hānai*, he was adopted by his aunt Princess Poʻomaikelani, while his brothers, David Kawānanakoa and Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole, were adopted by King Kalākaua and Queen Kapiʻolani [63, 77]. These three brothers were collectively known as the Piʻikoi Brothers or the "Three Princes" [77].

In 1874, the Kalākaua Dynasty ascended to the throne, marking the end of the Kamehameha Dynasty [75]. On February 10, 1883, King Kalākaua formally granted Keliʻiahonui the title of Prince and the honorific style of His Royal Highness through letters patent, a distinction also extended to his mother, brothers, and aunt [75]. Despite this royal recognition, Keliʻiahonui was not explicitly mentioned in the first-person accounts of the coronation ceremony for King Kalākaua and Queen Kapiʻolani on February 14 of the same year, even though other family members played prominent roles [75].

Keliʻiahonui received his early education at St. Alban\'s College (now ʻIolani School) and Punahou School [71]. In 1885, he and his brothers were sent abroad to attend Saint Matthew\'s School, a private Episcopal military school in San Mateo, California [71]. During their time in California, the brothers made a notable cultural contribution. In the summer of 1885, they traveled to the Pacific seashore at Santa Cruz and demonstrated the traditional Hawaiian sport of board surfing to the local populace. This event marked them as the first California surfers, a historic moment reported in the *Santa Cruz Daily* on July 20, 1885: "The young Hawaiian Princes were in the water enjoying it hugely and giving interesting exhibitions of surf board swimming as practiced in their native land" [79].

Throughout his life, Prince Keliʻiahonui\'s health was noted as being weaker than that of his brothers [81]. In 1887, while still attending school in California, he fell ill with typhoid fever and was sent home [81]. Tragically, he succumbed to the illness shortly after his return, dying at ʻIolani Palace on September 21, 1887, at the young age of eighteen [52, 53, 81]. He was interred in the Kalakaua Crypt within the Royal Mausoleum, Mauna ʻAla, located in Nuʻuanu Valley, Oʻahu [81]. His legacy is remembered today through Prince Edward Street in Waikiki, which is named in his honor [81]. Although his life was brief, his role as a Hawaiian Prince and his pioneering introduction of surfing to California remain significant aspects of his historical identity.

While Prince Keliʻiahonui\'s life was cut short, his position within the Kalākaua Dynasty placed him at a pivotal moment in Hawaiian history. The ascension of the Kalākaua Dynasty in 1874 marked a significant shift from the Kamehameha Dynasty, bringing new political dynamics to the Kingdom [75]. As a Prince, Keliʻiahonui was part of the royal family that navigated increasing foreign influence and internal political challenges. Although he did not hold a direct governing role due to his youth and early demise, his status as a royal prince was inherently a political one, symbolizing the continuity and legitimacy of the Hawaiian monarchy. His education abroad, alongside his brothers, was part of a broader effort by King Kalākaua to prepare the next generation of Hawaiian leadership for a rapidly changing world [71, 93]. This initiative aimed to equip them with Western knowledge and skills while maintaining their Hawaiian identity.

In terms of cultural contributions, Keliʻiahonui\'s most widely recognized act was the introduction of surfing to California. This act was not merely a recreational pastime but a significant cultural exchange, showcasing a cherished Hawaiian tradition to a new audience [79]. Surfing, or *heʻe nalu*, was an integral part of ancient Hawaiian society, deeply intertwined with spiritual beliefs, social status, and physical prowess. By demonstrating this sport, the princes shared a piece of their heritage, fostering an early connection between Hawaiian and American cultures. This event predates the widespread popularization of surfing in the West, highlighting Keliʻiahonui\'s unwitting role as a cultural ambassador. The historical account in the *Santa Cruz Daily* underscores the novelty and fascination with which this Hawaiian tradition was received [79].

His relationship to the Hawaiian Kingdom was defined by his birthright and his familial ties to the ruling monarchs. As the nephew of Queen Kapiʻolani and a first cousin to King Kalākaua, he was at the heart of the royal court [71]. His adoption (*hānai*) by Princess Poʻomaikelani further solidified his connections within the aliʻi class, emphasizing the intricate web of relationships that governed Hawaiian society [77]. The granting of the title of Prince and the style of His Royal Highness by King Kalākaua was a formal acknowledgment of his royal standing and his potential future role within the Kingdom [75]. His early death, however, prevented him from fully realizing this potential or contributing more directly to the political landscape of the time. The loss of a young prince like Keliʻiahonui was a blow to the royal family and the Kingdom, as it represented a diminished future generation of leadership during a period of intense political pressure and change.

While specific quotes, chants, or oral traditions directly attributed to Prince Edward Abnel Keliʻiahonui are not widely documented, his life and the lives of his brothers are often remembered in the context of the broader Kalākaua era, a period marked by a resurgence of Hawaiian culture and a renewed sense of national identity. King Kalākaua, known as the Merrie Monarch, actively promoted Hawaiian traditions, music, and arts, and his efforts undoubtedly influenced the cultural upbringing of Keliʻiahonui and his brothers. Their act of surfing in California can be seen as an embodiment of this cultural pride and a desire to share their heritage with the world.

His legacy, though brief, is multifaceted. Beyond Prince Edward Street in Waikiki, his memory is preserved through historical accounts of his family and his unique contribution to the global spread of surfing [81]. His life serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges faced by the Hawaiian monarchy in the late 19th century and the personal stories intertwined with the larger narrative of Hawaiian sovereignty. His early passing, alongside other young aliʻi, contributed to the eventual succession crises that plagued the Kingdom. In the context of Hawaiian sovereignty, Keliʻiahonui represents a generation of aliʻi who were educated both in traditional Hawaiian ways and Western customs, poised to lead the Kingdom into the future, a future that was tragically cut short for him. His story, therefore, is not just a personal biography but a microcosm of the broader historical forces at play during a critical juncture for the Hawaiian people and their kingdom.