Abigail Kawananakoa

Abigail Wahiikaahuula Campbell Kawananakoa (b. 1882), was a politician and Princess of Hawaii by virtue of her marriage to Prince David Laamea Kahalepouli Kawananakoa Piikoi. Prince David became one of the heirs to the throne of the Kingdom of Hawaii upon the death of Princess Victoria Kaiulani. Prince David unfortunately died of pneumonia in 1908. Princess Abigail was the daughter of James Campbell, one of the wealthiest industrialists in the Territory of Hawaii.

Upon the death of her brother-in-law, Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole in 1922, Princess Abigail effectively became the leader of all native Hawaiians and took an active part in Hawaii politics as her subjects' advocate. She also assumed the role of heir to the throne as native Hawaiians continued to pray for the return of their sovereignty. Unlike her brother-in-law Prince Kuhio, Princess Abigail was a devout Republican and worked to develop its platforms and pursue its ideals. In 1924 she became the Republican national committeewoman for Hawaii and served in that capacity for twelve years. Her prominence on the national Republican stage made Princess Abigail a role model for women in Hawaii.

In 1942, after Japan occupied Hawaii, they reconsistuted the Kingdom of Hawaii. Kawananakoa had the strongest claim to the throne, and was their first choice for ruler. Meeting with key Japanese officials in Iolani Palace (including Minoru Genda and Mitsuo Fuchida), Kawananakoa discerned their desire for a mere puppet to reign with the real power remaining in Japanese hands. Kawananakoa found such an arrangement to be unsatisfactory, and declined.