Princess Ka‘iulani of Hawai‘i’s story is one of hope and betrayal, of deception and revolution, of surfing and painting and dancing, and of incredible tenacity and bravery.

In this first installment, we meet her parents, Archibald Scott Cleghorn and Princess Likelike of Hawai‘i. We see little Ka‘iulani grow up with full confidence in the role she was born to play – a future sovereign of her country. And we see her face the first devastating tragedy of her young life.

But to set up what’s about to happen to her, we have to take a step back in time and find out why Hawai‘i’s political situation was so tense during the reign of her uncle, King Kalākaua.

Because once you understand how we got here, Ka‘iulani’s story is even more poignant. Yes, this is the story of a little girl with a pony who asked her uncle for a diamond ring. But it’s also the story of a country struggling to keep its culture and its independence. Of a country fighting enemies seen and unseen – including death, disease, and infertility.

The stakes? Nothing less than the land and the soul of a nation.

A princess in training, a surfing legend, Dr. Jekyll, and Sherlock Holmes. Bet you didn’t expect those last two …

This is the second installment in the story of Princess Ka‘iulani of Hawai‘i. In this episode, we see what happens when the white planters challenged Ka‘iulani’s uncle, King Kalākaua…and won. With a kingdom changing before their eyes, Kalākaua and her father Archie sent Ka‘iulani to England for her education.

When the king gave her permission to leave the country, he specified that she was to come home in 1890. But that’s not what happened. Not by a long shot. By the time she set foot on Hawaiian soil again, she was a worldwide celebrity…and a player in the fight for her country’s survival.

But how do you learn to be a queen? And what do you do when your destiny seems out of reach…over 7,000 miles away? And what the heck does Sherlock Holmes have to do with this? Maybe nothing…but we should ask Ka‘iulani’s father to be sure. Check out the chapter “Father Knows Best” for that little tidbit. 😉

Stay tuned for part 3, where we see the second of her mother Likelike’s deathbed predictions come true.