HONOLULU — Her Royal Highness Princess Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawānanakoa will be the 12th person to lie in state in the Throne Room of Iolani Palace for a public memorial service on Sunday, Jan. 22 from 2 to 8 p.m.
The arrival of Princess Abigail in a handcrafted koa casket at 1:30 p.m. will follow traditional Hawaiian protocol. A small procession will accompany the casket carried by law enforcement honor guard into the Throne Room, where family and the Hawaiian Royal Societies will keep vigil, according to a news release.
The pedestrian gate on King Street will open at 2 p.m. for the public to enter to pay their respects. This will be the only entrance available. Palace grounds will be closed to vehicles and no parking will be available. The public can access parking at the Civic Center Municipal Building.
The family requests the public respect the dignity of the event and behave appropriately. Footwear and appropriate dress are required to enter the palace; clothing with political or offensive language or slogans will not be allowed. Flash photography, video, large bags and backpacks are prohibited inside Iolani Palace. No picnicking will be allowed on the grounds.
Ho‘okupu (gifts) of lei and flowers are welcome outside of the palace, and will be taken to Mauna Ala; the public is asked to not leave gifts of food or liquor. Those who wish to present a gift of mele or hula to Princess Abigail may do so in a performance area in front of Iolani Palace. The public may write messages in memorial books before entering the palace. Memorial contributions can also be made to The Friends of Iolani Palace in honor of Princess Abigail’s leadership and support at the Iolani Palace website.
Princess Abigail Kawānanakoa died on Dec. 11, 2022, at the age of 96. She is recognized as a distinguished member of the royal family of Hawaii — the Royal House of Kawānanakoa — which had close family ties to Hawaii’s last reigning monarchs, King Kalākaua and Queen Lili‘uokalani.
Martin & MacArthur handcrafted Princess Abigail’s casket made from a single 165-year-old koa tree that had fallen during a winter storm in 2021 on Hawaii Island. It has three emblems: the Hawaii crown, Hawaii Coat of Arms and the Kawānanakoa family crest.
Princess Likelike was the first to lie in state in the Throne Room of Iolani Palace after her passing in 1887. Other royals included King David Kalākaua (1891), Prince David Kawānanakoa (1908), Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole (1922) and Albert Kūnuiākea (1903), son of King Kamehameha III.
Queen Liliʻuokalani did not lie in state at the palace, but her private funeral service was held in the Throne Room in 1917. Upon her husband John O. Dominis’ death in 1891, he did lie in state in the Throne Room. The funeral for Prince Edward Keliʻiahonui was also held in the Throne Room after his passing in 1887.
Government officials have also lain in state at the palace — Minister Plenipotentiary to Hawaii Albert Willis (1897), Republic of Hawaii Minister James Anderson King (1899), Republic of Hawaii President Sanford B. Dole (1926), Gov. Wallace Rider Farrington (1954) and Gov. Oren E. Long (1965).
Princess Abigail was the largest single benefactor of Iolani Palace. Her mother, Lydia Liliʻuokalani Kawānanakoa Morris, had been entrusted by Gov. John A. Burns to restore the palace to its former grandeur. Upon her mother’s passing, the princess continued her legacy and successfully oversaw the palace’s transformation while serving as president of The Friends of Iolani Palace for nearly 30 years.
Sarah Yamanaka covers events, environmental and community news for Spectrum News Hawaii. She can be reached at sarah.yamanaka@charter.com.