The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1899-01-31
CELSO CAESAR MORENO
ADDS SOME PRINCESSES TO THE
ROYAL FAMILY.
More About the Claims of Mrs. Pratt
and Her Heirs to the Crown Lands.
Millions In 1t.

Don Caesar Moreno is still to the
fore and is out with counter claims
against the eX-Queen, in the Wash
ington Post. The Don adds a few
Princesses to the royal family, but
the more the merrier. The article in
question is headed "A Battle for Mil
linos," and runs in part as follows:
"EX-Queen Liliuokalani is to meet
with the determined opposition of
rival claimants to the so-called crown
lands of the Hawaiian Islands. 1t
will not only be necessary for her to
convince Congress that the United
States Government should make her
some remuneration for these lands,
but that she and no one else is the
rightful owner of them before she
can recover or have the title vested
in her. The other claimants to these
lands are Princess Elizabeth Kekaa-
niau. the wife of f. S. Pratt, an
American from Massachusetts, who
went to the Hawaiian Islands in the
early DAYS and like Mr.. Dominis, of
the same Commonwealth, married in
to the native royal family of the little
island kingdom, and Princess Teresa
Owana Kaoheani. The latter is the
niece of Princess Kekaaniau, Mrs
Pratt. and married native Hawaiian
with the Americanized name of Rob
ert w. Wilcox. These two Hawaiian
ladies assert that they and not the
eN-Queen are entitled to remunera-
ton from the United State Govern
ment for the so-called crown lands.
They have already taken steps to
present their claims against those OF
Mrs. Dominis before Congress, and
will make stubborn fight for recog-
milton and remuneration
"The claims of Princess Kekaaniau
and Princess Koahelelani to the crown
lands of the Hawaiian throne are
based upon statements, substantial
ed by genealogsts, that they are the
only living members of the royal fam
ily of the Kamehamehas of Hawaii.
1.-The value of these lands is now
estimated at about $6.000.000, but it
| is confidently expected that in the
course of few wears. with the ISL
| ands as a part of the United States
and the anticipated growth of popu-
| lation and trade, they will quadruple
| in value The principal holdings are
! in the Islands of Oahu, upon which
the city of Honolulu is located; Maui,
most valuable portion of the lands
lie within the city limits of Honolulu,
and they are to a considerable extent
! improved, although little or no rents
have been paid upon them Large
tracts in the other Islands are de-
voted to the production of sugar, and
have for years been Il part of the
enormous land holdings of Claus
Spreckels. the sugar king of Hawaii
Should the eX-Queen be decreed the
rightful owners of these lands. or be
awarded compensation for them by
the United States Government, Spree
els will continue to hold the land, as
he has for years, without the pay
ment of any rent except what he has
voluntarily contributed to her.
1.-THE former Queen is now in Wash
ington, and it is said that she is being
supported by Spreckels, and her IN
terests and claims to the crown lands
are being looked after by Paul Neu
man. the chief lieutenant of the Ha
waiian multi-millionaire. Her case is
being prepared for presentation to the
Court of Claims, while the rival claim
ants and heirs of King Kamehamehi
| III will fight for their interests be
fore the committees in Congress
Their efforts will be directed toward
inducing Congress to appoint
special committee to go out to Hawai-
and make Il careful investigation o
the entire matter, and establish thu
rightful owners of the lands in ques
ton. If they can succeed in doin1
this. they believe there is no question
but that Congress will remunerat
them for the crown lands or deciar
the title in them. The palace of tn
former Queen in Honolulu, now hse'
nc one of the Government buildings
is built upon the so-called crow
lands, as are several other publ
structures in Honolulu.