What do you think?
Rate this book
The Last Princess: The Story of Princess Kaiulani of Hawaii
The day she was born, bells rang joyously and cannon fired noisy salutes--at last there was an heir to the Hawai'ian throne. But although this beautiful young princess worked tirelessly to prepare herself to rule, and fought bravely to protect the rights of her beloved people, she would never be queen.
When it was first published, The Last Princess: The Story of Princess Ka'iulani of Hawai'i won many honors for its sensitive text and brilliantly colored illustrations. A 1991 American Library Association Notable Book, it also won the Carter G. Woodson Award from the National Council Social Studies.
In this reissued edition of an inspired collaboration, author Fay Stanley, writing her only children's book, and daughter Diane Stanley, the celebrated author and illustrator, tell the touching, bittersweet story of Princess Ka'iulani and open a window onto a nation's history that is often forgotten.
40 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
6 people are currently reading
322 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
April 17, 2016
GREAT! Empowering story about a brave girl doing her best for the good of her people. . . It was heartbreaking to learn about the annexation of Hawaii from the point of view of the native Hawaiian people. . . how they mourned. An important historical book.
(Note: I appreciated her interaction with Grover Cleveland. This would be a good book to revisit learning about individual presidents.)
(Note: I appreciated her interaction with Grover Cleveland. This would be a good book to revisit learning about individual presidents.)
April 18, 2019
3.5 stars.
The Last Princess is a solid introduction to the story of Ka'iulani as a person, as well as a solid introduction to the story of the traumatic annexation of Hawai'i. I think children that connect to history, especially to the history of royalty, with especially connect with this story. The story is long enough to appeal to older readers, but it definitely has a broad appeal as a storybook. The illustrations are lovely.
I would recommend this for readers looking for a child-friendly introduction to Ka'iulani's life and work and to Hawai'ian history.
The Last Princess is a solid introduction to the story of Ka'iulani as a person, as well as a solid introduction to the story of the traumatic annexation of Hawai'i. I think children that connect to history, especially to the history of royalty, with especially connect with this story. The story is long enough to appeal to older readers, but it definitely has a broad appeal as a storybook. The illustrations are lovely.
I would recommend this for readers looking for a child-friendly introduction to Ka'iulani's life and work and to Hawai'ian history.
May 17, 2022
I mean it’s a kids book
August 6, 2019
I saw this and decided to read it, to know more about Hawaii's history and a person I've never heard of. I knew with a title like "the last princess" that it was going to be a sad story.
I didn't know that Hawaii is a group of 132 islands, with 8 main ones.
Princess Ka'iulani was born Oct 16, 1875 to Princess Miriam Likelike find Archibald Cleghorn. Archibald was Scottish, not royal but became a friend and advisor to King Kalakaua. Hawaii celebrated with bells ringing and canons firing, people rejoicing that an heir had been born.
A beach on Oahu was the meeting ground of warrior chiefs.
Archibald imported spice and fruit trees. Ka'iulani had a tortoise, horse, and peacocks as pets. She swam and surfed, but wasn't spoiled, was loved by family and servants.
When she was 11 her mom became sick and on the day she died she told Ka'iulani that she had a vision that she would travel a long way away for a long time and never rule Hawai'i. Ka'iulani was strong and brave and continued to study. Her dad and aunt sent her to England to receive an education for an ali'i, a noble from a ruling family.
I was so surprised that Robert Louis Stevenson, the author of Treasure Island, met Ka'iulani when she was so young and they became close. He was a tall Scotsman, "ridiculously thin." No one's size should be described as ridiculous. He was there for a few weeks and became friends with the royal family. He thought she was more beautiful than the fairest flower, told her stories of his travels and working in his shack and playing the flute. He wrote a poem in her book, talking about her being an Island rose, daughter of a double race, and waiting for his little maid.
She landed in San Francisco after a cold, seasick voyage and took a train across the country to New York, where she got on another ship to London. Great Harrowden Hall was a private school for the daughters of rich and royal families. She learned new languages and social graces to be queen. She traveled England and Europe during holidays. She went to balls and parties and estates in the countryside. She visited her guardian and family friend who lived in England and looked after her. She wrote of being presented to Queen Victoria at court in the spring.
Her family told her of political problems at home, how other countries wanted Hawai'i because it was in the middle of the Pacific and ships could get water, fuel, and supplies on their way to the Orient. They wanted to trade Oriental goods for European and American products and have a military base, and fertile land to grow crops to sell to other nations. People wanted to control the kings and convert them to Christianity. Missionaries thought they were savages.
They became rich and powerful by marrying into noble Hawaiian families and tricking farmers out of their land. They owned big ranches and sugar cane plantations. Some became rich merchants and traders and controlled shipping, banking, and politics.
Whites wanted Hawai'i to be under America's control. They forced her uncle the king to sign a constitution giving away from of his power and only allowing some people to vote. Her uncle wrote to her to be on guard against enemies but couldn't name anyone. He soon died and her aunt became queen, making her next in line for the throne.
They call foreigners "haole."
Her aunt was overthrown and her guardian told her to go to Washington and speak to President Grover Cleveland. It was admirable that she was a timid 17 year old and was upset at the idea of speaking to the president of one of the greatest nations. But she loved her people and country and said that maybe Hawaiians would say that she could have saved them and didn't even try.
She spoke to reporters in England and America and won them over. Some teared up and I got chills as she said that she can hear her people's wail now and it gives her strength and courage.
Mr. and Mrs. Cleveland were impressed by her courage and dignity. He sent an investigator to Hawaii to report back and she went back to England. The man said the Hawaiians had been wronged and opposed annexation and Cleveland wanted her aunt returned to the throne. He wouldn't send troops to Hawaii to force the whites to stop, all he could do was block annexation while he was president.
Hawaiian revolutionaries attempted a revolt but a one of their own betrayed their plan and they were arrested. The queen signed over her throne to save their lives, but she was imprisoned in her palace, tried for treason, sentenced to 5 years hard labor, and fined $5,000. Her sentence was lightened later but Hawaiian kings and queens no longer ruled their people.
Many had their land stolen, didn't have the right to vote, and lost their government. They were a minority in their own lands, outnumbered by Oriental immigrants and haoles. Many died from white disease.
Ka'iulani knew she had to go home. The biggest crowd awaited her and even though her surroundings were unfamiliar, she stayed strong and helped out as she could, but refused to get into politics.
After Cleveland left office, Hawaii was annexed. Hawaiians stayed inside and mourned. She didn't want to see the American troops and avoided Honolulu.
In January 1899, she was out riding with friends and took her hat off and let her down and rode in the cold rain. She got sick and people said that when she died her peacocks cried out.
It was emotional that people spoke in whispers and they muffled the horses hooves as her body was brought to the church to lay in state. Bells sounded and cannons were fired just like when she was born.
She was 23, had stayed away from her people for a long time, had never married, and never became queen, just as her mom had said. It was nice that the author asked "Or had she?" She spent years in exile to better herself for her royal duties, fought in Washington to save her people, and endured suffering with dignity. She said perhaps she was a queen.
The note on the Hawaiian language was really neat. It uses diacritical marks which I've never heard of. A glottal stop (') and macron (-). They show how words are pronounced and show the meanings of a word. Hawaiian words can have the same letters but the marks show the different meanings based on how they're pronounced. The glottal stop is only before or between vowels (a, e, i, o, u). This shows a break in voice. The macron is only over vowels and means it should be stressed or emphasized. It can also change pronunciation.
It was so helpful to have the section on stressed and unstressed.
Unstressed
a like a in about
e like e in net
i like y in city
o like o in pole
u like oo in moon
Stressed (all these vowels have macrons over them)
a like a in car
e like ay in day
i like ee in bee
o like o in like (unstressed o)
u like oo in moon (unstressed u)
In vowel combinations ae, ai, ao, au, ei, oi, ou, the first vowel is stressed.
In iu combination both vowels are stressed.
A w after i and e usually sounds like v.
A w after u and o usually sounds like w.
I didn't know if she meant after ie and uo, or if the rule applied if w is after i, e, u or o. A bit confusing.
A w at the beginning of a word and after a can sound either like v or w. Just to confuse us! How do we know which it is?!
This was a sad story like I thought it would be. I'm not really glad I read it. I would have been okay not reading it. I hate sad stories with sad endings. Obviously I knew that Hawaii became a part of the U.S. but I didn't know what Hawaiians were really giving up so I now I know more about Hawaii's history but it was a downer considering what happened to her and her family specifically, Hawaiian royals, and Hawaii in general.
I didn't know that Hawaii is a group of 132 islands, with 8 main ones.
Princess Ka'iulani was born Oct 16, 1875 to Princess Miriam Likelike find Archibald Cleghorn. Archibald was Scottish, not royal but became a friend and advisor to King Kalakaua. Hawaii celebrated with bells ringing and canons firing, people rejoicing that an heir had been born.
A beach on Oahu was the meeting ground of warrior chiefs.
Archibald imported spice and fruit trees. Ka'iulani had a tortoise, horse, and peacocks as pets. She swam and surfed, but wasn't spoiled, was loved by family and servants.
When she was 11 her mom became sick and on the day she died she told Ka'iulani that she had a vision that she would travel a long way away for a long time and never rule Hawai'i. Ka'iulani was strong and brave and continued to study. Her dad and aunt sent her to England to receive an education for an ali'i, a noble from a ruling family.
I was so surprised that Robert Louis Stevenson, the author of Treasure Island, met Ka'iulani when she was so young and they became close. He was a tall Scotsman, "ridiculously thin." No one's size should be described as ridiculous. He was there for a few weeks and became friends with the royal family. He thought she was more beautiful than the fairest flower, told her stories of his travels and working in his shack and playing the flute. He wrote a poem in her book, talking about her being an Island rose, daughter of a double race, and waiting for his little maid.
She landed in San Francisco after a cold, seasick voyage and took a train across the country to New York, where she got on another ship to London. Great Harrowden Hall was a private school for the daughters of rich and royal families. She learned new languages and social graces to be queen. She traveled England and Europe during holidays. She went to balls and parties and estates in the countryside. She visited her guardian and family friend who lived in England and looked after her. She wrote of being presented to Queen Victoria at court in the spring.
Her family told her of political problems at home, how other countries wanted Hawai'i because it was in the middle of the Pacific and ships could get water, fuel, and supplies on their way to the Orient. They wanted to trade Oriental goods for European and American products and have a military base, and fertile land to grow crops to sell to other nations. People wanted to control the kings and convert them to Christianity. Missionaries thought they were savages.
They became rich and powerful by marrying into noble Hawaiian families and tricking farmers out of their land. They owned big ranches and sugar cane plantations. Some became rich merchants and traders and controlled shipping, banking, and politics.
Whites wanted Hawai'i to be under America's control. They forced her uncle the king to sign a constitution giving away from of his power and only allowing some people to vote. Her uncle wrote to her to be on guard against enemies but couldn't name anyone. He soon died and her aunt became queen, making her next in line for the throne.
They call foreigners "haole."
Her aunt was overthrown and her guardian told her to go to Washington and speak to President Grover Cleveland. It was admirable that she was a timid 17 year old and was upset at the idea of speaking to the president of one of the greatest nations. But she loved her people and country and said that maybe Hawaiians would say that she could have saved them and didn't even try.
She spoke to reporters in England and America and won them over. Some teared up and I got chills as she said that she can hear her people's wail now and it gives her strength and courage.
Mr. and Mrs. Cleveland were impressed by her courage and dignity. He sent an investigator to Hawaii to report back and she went back to England. The man said the Hawaiians had been wronged and opposed annexation and Cleveland wanted her aunt returned to the throne. He wouldn't send troops to Hawaii to force the whites to stop, all he could do was block annexation while he was president.
Hawaiian revolutionaries attempted a revolt but a one of their own betrayed their plan and they were arrested. The queen signed over her throne to save their lives, but she was imprisoned in her palace, tried for treason, sentenced to 5 years hard labor, and fined $5,000. Her sentence was lightened later but Hawaiian kings and queens no longer ruled their people.
Many had their land stolen, didn't have the right to vote, and lost their government. They were a minority in their own lands, outnumbered by Oriental immigrants and haoles. Many died from white disease.
Ka'iulani knew she had to go home. The biggest crowd awaited her and even though her surroundings were unfamiliar, she stayed strong and helped out as she could, but refused to get into politics.
After Cleveland left office, Hawaii was annexed. Hawaiians stayed inside and mourned. She didn't want to see the American troops and avoided Honolulu.
In January 1899, she was out riding with friends and took her hat off and let her down and rode in the cold rain. She got sick and people said that when she died her peacocks cried out.
It was emotional that people spoke in whispers and they muffled the horses hooves as her body was brought to the church to lay in state. Bells sounded and cannons were fired just like when she was born.
She was 23, had stayed away from her people for a long time, had never married, and never became queen, just as her mom had said. It was nice that the author asked "Or had she?" She spent years in exile to better herself for her royal duties, fought in Washington to save her people, and endured suffering with dignity. She said perhaps she was a queen.
The note on the Hawaiian language was really neat. It uses diacritical marks which I've never heard of. A glottal stop (') and macron (-). They show how words are pronounced and show the meanings of a word. Hawaiian words can have the same letters but the marks show the different meanings based on how they're pronounced. The glottal stop is only before or between vowels (a, e, i, o, u). This shows a break in voice. The macron is only over vowels and means it should be stressed or emphasized. It can also change pronunciation.
It was so helpful to have the section on stressed and unstressed.
Unstressed
a like a in about
e like e in net
i like y in city
o like o in pole
u like oo in moon
Stressed (all these vowels have macrons over them)
a like a in car
e like ay in day
i like ee in bee
o like o in like (unstressed o)
u like oo in moon (unstressed u)
In vowel combinations ae, ai, ao, au, ei, oi, ou, the first vowel is stressed.
In iu combination both vowels are stressed.
A w after i and e usually sounds like v.
A w after u and o usually sounds like w.
I didn't know if she meant after ie and uo, or if the rule applied if w is after i, e, u or o. A bit confusing.
A w at the beginning of a word and after a can sound either like v or w. Just to confuse us! How do we know which it is?!
This was a sad story like I thought it would be. I'm not really glad I read it. I would have been okay not reading it. I hate sad stories with sad endings. Obviously I knew that Hawaii became a part of the U.S. but I didn't know what Hawaiians were really giving up so I now I know more about Hawaii's history but it was a downer considering what happened to her and her family specifically, Hawaiian royals, and Hawaii in general.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 27, 2023
I’ve read Sarah Vowell’s “Unfamiliar Fishes” so I knew a bit about Hawaii’s history but it’s always nice to have a reminder of how things went down. 🙁
Beautiful illustrations for a tragic story.
Beautiful illustrations for a tragic story.
December 8, 2016
Awards: Carter G. Woodson Award
Grade: 1-3
Summary: This a story of the last Princess of Hawaii that fought to keep the United States from annexing her homeland. The author shows the reader how
Review:
In Class Use:
Grade: 1-3
Summary: This a story of the last Princess of Hawaii that fought to keep the United States from annexing her homeland. The author shows the reader how
Review:
In Class Use:
June 27, 2017
I read this as a read aloud with my son. This is the sad tale of the American domination of Hawaii and Hawaii's last princess and her courageous efforts to save her nation. Beautiful illustrations.
August 8, 2019
Touching book on the life of Princess Ka’iulani of Hawaii. The heir to the throne, she was sent to Great Britain for education. Her father died when she was there and her aunt took the throne. Eventually the haloes or whites took over Hawaii. Ka’iulani spoke to President Garfield who tried to stop the takeover. He lost office and President Arthur supported it. Ka’iulani took ill and died. Sad but important story to know. Well told.
June 21, 2022
This is definitely for the upper elementary grades as there is a lot of historical content that portrays itself in this story, 5th and 6th graders would benefit the most from this text. It is a moving story of a young woman who showed great bravery in a time of change. It is illustrated with amazingly detailed paintings and even includes a note on the Hawaiian language, a map, and a bibliography. Another very cool book to have in a collection for readers interested in nonfiction.
October 25, 2019
A short bio of Princess Ka’iulani of Hawai’i. Beautifully illustrated by Diane Stanley. I was able to get my Hawaiian royalty straight. I thought she was the last queen but I was mistaken. The book dealt a little with the overthrow done by the rich Americans but I wish there was more. So sad she died so young. I was not even aware of this particular princess.
January 19, 2021
Sometimes I get a little frustrated with myself after reading books like this and realizing that I was completely ignorant to any of these facts in history! This is a perfect simplified for children to understand version of how Hawaii used to be ruled by kings and queens before it became a part of the United States.
August 24, 2018
This was a really great book. It was a little lengthy in terms of the number of words/paragraphs on each page, however the illustrations were paired nicely with the text. I really enjoyed learning more about the history of Hawai'i
February 10, 2021
This was one of the two children's books I read with regard to the history of my homeland Hawaii, and it was definitely the better.
I appreciated the authenticity of this, and how it stayed true to the basic tell of our Kingdom's overthrow.
I appreciated the authenticity of this, and how it stayed true to the basic tell of our Kingdom's overthrow.
May 28, 2024
Children's illustrated history/biography of Princess Ka'iulani of Hawai'i. Good intro/overview of this period of Hawaii's history when it lost its independence and was taken over by the U.S. Sad story, really, and made me interested to learn more details.
December 7, 2025
Well, Americans do it again. Biography of Princess Ka’iulani and how her whole family and nation were taken advantage of by mercenaries in fancy suits. Tragic heroine. Hard truths told sensitively. Well illustrated, too.
August 1, 2018
Good revisionist history of the end of the Hawaiian monarchy due to American Colonialism. This was a story I did not know and I'm glad I do now.
April 24, 2019
(History of Hawaii, Monarchy Government, Inspirational, Determined)
October 13, 2019
My 8 year old and I read this together. We found this story to be sad, but true. An important and often overlooked piece of history.
March 8, 2020
Based on a true story. Lovely illustrations.
July 30, 2020
The last princess of Hawaii who never got to rule because her country was taken away by rich Americans.
Good way to introduce to kids that Americans not always right.
Good way to introduce to kids that Americans not always right.
September 14, 2020
Beautiful illustrations accompany the beautiful, yet achingly heartbreaking story of the last princess of Hawaii. Also includes some information about the Hawaiian language and it’s pronunciation.
April 15, 2021
read for class, very informational and pretty
June 10, 2021
A part of history, including our U.S. history, that I never knew. I was drawn in by the details of the life of this princess, and by the beautiful illustrations by Diane Stanley.
Read
August 6, 2021I read this aloud to my fifth-grader and second-grader as part of our homeschool history studies, and we enjoyed it.
December 12, 2021
American imperialism...
January 26, 2024
Loved reading this with the kids when we were studying the State of Hawaii.
April 16, 2025
Interesting, historically correct. Beautiful illustrations
October 30, 2025
Beautiful illustrations of a heartbreaking true story.
May 25, 2020
The Last Princess: The Story of Princess Ka'iulani of Hawai'i is a children's picture book written by Fay Stanley and illustrated by Diane Stanley. It chronicles the life of Princess Ka'iulani – the last Princess of Hawaii, before Hawaii became a part of the United States of America.
May, at least in my part of the world is Asian Heritage Month, which I plan to read one children's book, particularly a biography, which pertains to the subject everyday this month. Therefore, I thought that this book would be apropos for today.
Victoria Kawēkiu Ka'iulani Lunalilo Kalaninuiahilapalapa Cleghorn was heir to the throne of the Kingdom of Hawaii and held the title of Crown Princess. Ka'iulani became known throughout the world for her intelligence and determination. Unfortunately, all her efforts and wits could not prevent eventual annexation of her country.
The text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. It depicts the life of Ka'iulani – the last Princess of Hawaii, through her childhood and her adulthood as she tries, but fails to prevent the political upheaval and annexation of Hawaii to the United States. The richly textured gouache painting like illustrations conveys the drama and the sadness of the narrative extremely well.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. Born in 1875, Princess Ka'iulani was heir to the throne of the kingdom of Hawai'i. When she was eleven, the girl's storybook childhood came to an abrupt end. Her mother fell ill, and on her deathbed shared with her daughter a vision of the future: Ka'iulani would go far away from her country for a long time, would not marry and would never rule Hawai'i. While the princess attended boarding school in England, Hawai'i experienced political upheaval that eventually led to revolution and the country's annexation by the United States.
All in all, The Last Princess: The Story of Princess Ka'iulani of Hawai'i is a wonderful tragic story about the last Princess of Hawaii – Princess Ka'iulani.
May, at least in my part of the world is Asian Heritage Month, which I plan to read one children's book, particularly a biography, which pertains to the subject everyday this month. Therefore, I thought that this book would be apropos for today.
Victoria Kawēkiu Ka'iulani Lunalilo Kalaninuiahilapalapa Cleghorn was heir to the throne of the Kingdom of Hawaii and held the title of Crown Princess. Ka'iulani became known throughout the world for her intelligence and determination. Unfortunately, all her efforts and wits could not prevent eventual annexation of her country.
The text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. It depicts the life of Ka'iulani – the last Princess of Hawaii, through her childhood and her adulthood as she tries, but fails to prevent the political upheaval and annexation of Hawaii to the United States. The richly textured gouache painting like illustrations conveys the drama and the sadness of the narrative extremely well.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. Born in 1875, Princess Ka'iulani was heir to the throne of the kingdom of Hawai'i. When she was eleven, the girl's storybook childhood came to an abrupt end. Her mother fell ill, and on her deathbed shared with her daughter a vision of the future: Ka'iulani would go far away from her country for a long time, would not marry and would never rule Hawai'i. While the princess attended boarding school in England, Hawai'i experienced political upheaval that eventually led to revolution and the country's annexation by the United States.
All in all, The Last Princess: The Story of Princess Ka'iulani of Hawai'i is a wonderful tragic story about the last Princess of Hawaii – Princess Ka'iulani.
January 25, 2009
An Asian Pacific American book, The Last Princess is an excellent children’s biography that tells the story of Princess Ka`iulani of Hawai`i. The reader follows Ka`iulani through her blessed childhood until the death of her mother who tells her that she has seen Ka`iulani’s future and the turmoil she and her people will go through. While away at boarding school in England, Ka`iulani learns of the U.S. plans to annex Hawai`i. She builds the strength and courage to fight for her people and the land until her untimely death on March 6, 1899.
Author, Fay Stanley engages readers in this little known Hawaiian history with authentic language speckled throughout. In fact, at the end of this text, the reader finds a history of and a pronunciation guide to the Hawaiian language. Stanley’s daughter, Diane Stanley, paints vivid, full-page images that capture the emotion of this heartbreaking history.
Author, Fay Stanley engages readers in this little known Hawaiian history with authentic language speckled throughout. In fact, at the end of this text, the reader finds a history of and a pronunciation guide to the Hawaiian language. Stanley’s daughter, Diane Stanley, paints vivid, full-page images that capture the emotion of this heartbreaking history.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews