HONOLULU — Veronica Kawānanakoa, wife and partner of the late Princess Abigail Kawānanakoa for 25 years, has gifted The Friends of Iolani Palace with $750,000.
The initial $500,000 from Veronica Kawānanakoa’s personal funds will help to establish the Kawānanakoa Legacy Room as part of Iolani Palace’s Basement Galleries Project, according to a news release. It will also pay the electricity bill, which Princess Kawānanakoa subsidized for many years, and fund a study to identify future maintenance and repair issues for Iolani Palace.
An additional personal gift of over $250,000 from Veronica Kawānanakoa has been established through the Hawaii Community Foundation and will be designated for Iolani Palace and other charitable purposes.
“We are incredibly grateful for Veronica’s personal commitment to provide ongoing support to The Friends of Iolani Palace in ways that have long been important to Princess Abigail Kawānanakoa,” said Paula Akana, executive director for The Friends of Iolani Palace, in the release. “Through these personal gifts, Princess Abigail’s legacy and her commitment to supporting Iolani Palace and Hawaiian culture will live on.”
The eldest granddaughter of Prince David Kawānanakoa, Princess Abigail was the longtime president of The Friends of Iolani Palace, an organization created by her mother to restore, protect, and preserve the palace’s rich history. Princess Abigail passed away on Dec. 11, 2022, at 96.
Sarah Yamanaka covers events, environmental and community news for Spectrum News Hawaii. She can be reached at sarah.yamanaka@charter.com.