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Movie title 'Barbarian Princess' deemed disrespecful by local parents
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Princess Wikolia Kaiulani Kalaninuihilapalapa i Lunalilo Cleghorn
Many Hawaii parents bombarded local radio stations this morning to protest the title of a new movie. A new motion picture depicting the partly fictional life of Princess Victoria Kaiulani Kalaninuihilapalapa i Lunalilo Cleghorn is under fire from many island residents, after the official title of the film was released as, "Barbarian Princess."
The term 'Barbarian Princess' was one of many racist labels that were used to describe the highly educated Hawaiian Princess by pro-annexation groups before and during the time of the illegal overthrow. Other epithets that were used to depict this world-renowned Hawaiian Royal was "Heathen Princess" and "Princess Koylani," colorfully drawn as a clown-like cannibal.
Princess Kaiulani, who was the daughter of Princess Miriam Likelike and a Scottish banker, and the niece of King David Kalakaua and Queen Lydia Liliuokalani was looked up to by many patriots as a savior, because she was next in line to inhered the throne in accordance to law. She was educated at the University of Cambridge in England and was groomed since birth to be a Queen. She died at a very young age of 23 due to mysterious causes. The Princess witnessed the effects of the annexation on her people and appealed to the United States to seek justice and reinstate the control to its Crown members. Her petitions were never resolved and she died shortly after.
The overthrow that many say broke her heart took place in 1893, and served as a tragic upheaval to many citizens of the Kingdom of Hawaii. It was executed by a small vigilante band of sugar planters, many of whom were subjects of the Hawaiian Kingdom due to their births from Christian missionary parents. This assembly violently entered the courtyard of Iolani Palace and threatened the Queen's life with cannons, guns, swords and other weapons, and upon sight of large weaponry aboard a nearby United States Naval ship that was aimed at the palace, the Queen stepped away from the throne temporarily and worked fervently alongside the Princess Kaiulani to try to remove the rogue group from its newly claimed power. The Queen looked to the United States to honor its perpetual treaty with the Hawaiian Kingdom, and asked the other countries that they had treaties with for help as well, mainly looking to the larger countries of Japan, England, France, and Spain, to aid in reinstating her to her throne.
Because of the effects that this long string of disruptive events had and continues to have on the Native Hawaiian people, the name "Barbarian Princess" draws hurt and anger from many locals and serves as both a slap-in-the-face reminder of the early and tragic loss of a beloved Princess, and a lasting symbol of disrespect and mockery toward Native Hawaiians. This also leaves many Hawaii people asking, 'would they name a movie based on the life of a European Royal this way?'
Chances are, only a few parents in Hawaii will be taking their children to see this movie if only because of its titled sentiment.
If the above information was not enough to help educate you and your children on the subject of Princess Kaiulani, and you are interested in teaching your keiki more about the life of this Hawaiian Monarch, read these kid friendly books:
- Little Princess Kaiulani in Her Garden by the Sea by Ellie Crowe
- Kaiulani: Crown Princess of Hawaii by Nancy Webb & Jean Francis Webb
- Princess Kaiulani of Hawaii by Kristin Zambuka
- Princess Kaiulani: Hope of a Nation, Heart of a People- by Sharon Linnea
The poem written for her when she was a child by renowned writer Robert Louis Stevenson can be found here.
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