David Kawananakoa

Prince Kawananakoa (David) was the patriarch of the present-day House of Kawananakoa, heirs to the throne of the Kingdom of Hawai'i.

Kawananakoa or David Kawananakoa, formally David Laamea Kahalepouli Kinoiki Kawananakoa Piikoi (February 19, 1868 – June 2, 1908), was declared the third heir (after the then princess Liliuokalani and princess Kaiulani) to the throne of the Kingdom of Hawai'i by king Kalakaua I after king's brother died and he desired to avoid problematic royal elections in the foreseeable future. David's native name Kawananakoa was developed personally for him, and his own descendants have taken it as their common name, name of their monarchical House. He was granted the title of Prince and style of His Royal Highness in 1883 by king Kalakaua I. Kawananakoa was the eldest son of king Kalakaua's first cousin, the late lord David Kahalepouli Piikoi (an ali'i) from Kauai, and his wife the late Princess Victoria Kuhio Kinoike Kekaulike (an ali'i) of Hilo and royal governor of the island of Kauai, who was sister of Kalakaua's consort, queen Kapiolani. These relations were the reason for prince Kawananakoa's position in the succession order.

Years after the end of the actual kingdom, upon the death of Princess Victoria Kaiulani with whom Kawananakoa allegedly was betrothed, by force of the aforementioned succession order decreed by king Kalakaua, he became the immediate first heir of the deposed queen Liliuokalani.

He was the nephew of Queen Julia Kapiolani/Esther Kapiolani, married to reigning King David Kalakaua.

Prince David attended the 1900 Democratic National Convention in Kansas City, Missouri and was the first royal to attend a national Presidential nominating convention. He was to break tie about importing a plank into the convention platform regarding free silver.

In 1902, prince Kawananakoa married Abigail Wahiikaahuula Campbell who assumed the title of princess.

Prince David acknowledged paternity of a son, Prince Edward Kawananakoa (who died childless), and a daughter, Princess Lydia (mother of Princess Abigail Kinoike Kekaulike Kawananakoa). But he declared that the eldest child of his wife (or of the marriage, depending on what is the significance of David's declaration), Abigail Kapiolani Kawananakoa, 1903-1961, was not his. David is said to have her forced to adoption by his wife's mother, Abigail Kuaihelani Maipinepine Campbell-Parker. But that Abigail is considered by other authorities to have been legitimate and continue the true line of succession, which now is headed by her grandson, Prince Quentin Kawananakoa.

David Kawananakoa predeceased his elder cousin, the deposed queen Liliuokalani, and thus never became the official head of the former royal House of Hawaii. His son Edward instead succeeded, in 1917, in the royal claims of Liliuokalani.