Princess Theresa Owana Kaʻōhelelani Laʻanui

Princess Theresa Owana Kaʻōhelelani Laʻanui (May 1, 1860 – January 5, 1944) was a high-ranking aliʻi (noble) of the Hawaiian Kingdom and a descendant of the House of Kamehameha through her ancestor Kalokuokamaile, the eldest brother of Kamehameha I. Her life was marked by political activism, controversy, and a steadfast dedication to the rights of Native Hawaiians.

Born in Honolulu to High Chief Gideon Kailipalaki Laʻanui and Elizabeth Kamaikaopa, Theresa was of high aliʻi descent. Her father was a nephew of the formidable Queen Kaʻahumanu and was considered eligible for the throne by King Kamehameha III. Her mother was said to be a great-granddaughter of Keohokalole, the mother of Queen Liliʻuokalani. As a child, she was part of the royal court of Kamehameha V. After her parents' death in 1871, she was adopted by her aunt, Elizabeth Kekaʻaniau Pratt.

Theresa's life was intertwined with the political turmoil of late 19th and early 20th century Hawaiʻi. Her second husband, Robert William Wilcox, was a revolutionary and politician who led an 1895 counter-revolution to restore Queen Liliʻuokalani to the throne. After the annexation of Hawaiʻi by the United States, Wilcox was elected as the first delegate to the U.S. Congress from the Territory of Hawaiʻi. As his wife, Theresa became a prominent figure, even being received at the White House. Together, they published newspapers in Hawaiian and English, advocating for the rights of Native Hawaiians and opposing the ruling oligarchy.

Following Queen Liliʻuokalani's death in 1917, Theresa became embroiled in a major controversy over the queen's will. She presented a will that named her as a beneficiary, but it was challenged and ultimately deemed a forgery. Theresa was convicted of conspiracy and sentenced to prison, though she was later pardoned and her civil rights restored. She maintained her innocence for the rest of her life, claiming she was the victim of a political conspiracy.

Despite the scandal, Theresa remained a vocal advocate for her people. She petitioned for and received a pension as the widow of the first delegate to Congress, and she continued to fight for the restoration of the Hawaiian monarchy and the return of crown lands to the Hawaiian people. She envisioned a future where every Hawaiian family would have land and resources, with free schools and hospitals. Princess Theresa Owana Kaʻōhelelani died at The Queen's Hospital in Honolulu at the age of 83, leaving a complex and enduring legacy as a royalist, a political activist, and a controversial but significant figure in Hawaiian history.