Public viewing at Honolulu palace for ‘last Hawaiian princess’
- Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawānanakoa’s casket was expected to arrive at ʻIolani Palace in a hearse and be carried into the throne room
- Kawānanakoa died at her home in Nuuanu, Honolulu on December 11. She died ‘peacefully’ with her wife, Veronica Gail Kawānanakoa at her side, reports said
The casket bearing the 96-year-old heiress long considered the last Hawaiian princess is set to go on public display on Sunday in the downtown Honolulu palace that benefited from her wealth.
Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawānanakoa’s casket, handcrafted from a 165-year-old koa tree that fell during a 2021 storm on the Big Island, was expected to arrive at ʻIolani Palace in a hearse and be carried by members of a police honour guard up the palace’s front stairs and into the throne room.
The palace is America’s only royal residence, where the Hawaiian monarchy dwelled but now serves mostly as a museum. Kawānanakoa was the palace’s largest single benefactor, according to her publicists, and even paid its electricity bills for many years.
Members of the public were allowed to line up to view her casket and weren’t required to wear the shoe coverings that palace visitors normally have to wear as a preservation precaution. A carpet for mourners to walk on was temporarily installed for the viewing.
The viewing was expected to end at 8pm.
Kawānanakoa died at her home in Nuuanu, near downtown Honolulu on December 11. She died “peacefully” with her wife, Veronica Gail Kawānanakoa, 70, at her side, according to a news release.