Prince Francis

**Francis** (Francis Alexander John Kalawaiʻa; born 25 December 1958) is the eldest child of Queen Keʻalohilani. He is the first-in-line to the Hawaiian throne and heir apparent.

Francis was born at ʻIolani Palace in Honolulu as the eldest child of Princess Martha and her husband Alexander Kameāloha. Born as the second-in-line to the Hawaiian throne, he became first-in-line and heir apparent in 1960, at only one year old, following the death of his grandfather Kalawaiʻa II and accession of his mother.

Francis completed his education at Kamehameha Schools – Kapālama in 1977, becoming the first Hawaiian royal to not be educated by primarily private tutors. He subsequently received a degree in Hawaiian history from the University of Hawaii, Manoa in 1981, and a master's degree in 1983. Francis married his university sweetheart Veronica Buenaventura in 1984, making her the first person with no Native Hawaiian ancestry to marry into the royal family, and additionally the first to come from a family unaffiliated with the monarchy. They have two children together: Michael (born 1986) and Lucy (born 1988).

## Early life

Francis was born on 25 December 1958 at ʻIolani Palace in Honolulu with the birth name *Francis Alexander John Kalawaiʻa ʻŌpūnui*. His parents are Queen Keʻalohilani, then known as Princess Martha, and Prince Alexander. His mother is the eldest daughter of Kalawaiʻa II, while his father came from a line of prominent Native Hawaiians with connections to the monarchy. Like other Hawaiian royals, Francis was raised bilingually in English and Hawaiian.

Francis spent one year of his early life residing at Maluhia House on the grounds of ʻIolani Palace, until his mother acceded to the the throne as queen in 1960, and the family moved into the main royal residence. When Francis was five years old, his younger sister Princess Angelina was born, and his younger brother Prince Frederick was born one year afterwards.

## Youth and education

Francis began his education in 1964, after being enrolled at Kamehameha Schools – Kapālama, a private, coeducational, preparatory school for primarily Native Hawaiian students. Prior to Francis, Hawaiian royals were educated by private tutors at the royal palace. His mother believed that attending school with other students was imperative for a child's social development, and decided to break tradition to send him to school. While in school, Francis was an athlete, who excelled in soccer and surfing. He graduated from the school in 1977, where he was a member of the varsity soccer team and vice president of the surf club.

After graduating from high school, Francis enrolled in the University of Hawaii, Manoa to study Hawaiian history. While at the school, he also joined the intramural soccer team and continued surfing. Francis did not enjoy university, and reportedly often skipped classes to go to the beach with friends. He later graduated with his degree in 1981. Francis initially planned to enlist as an officer in the Royal Hawaiian Navy after graduating, but after tearing his ACL in a soccer match, he was forced to abandon these plans. His family instead convinced him to enroll in graduate school, and he did so reluctantly; Francis later received a master's degree in Hawaiian history from the University of Hawaii, Manoa in 1983.

## Marriage and family

Francis became introduced to Filipino-Hawaiian Veronica Buenaventura in 1978, while both attended a party near the University of Hawaii, Manoa, where they were both students. They soon began a romantic relationship, later becoming engaged in 1982. The couple married in a royal wedding on 14 April 1984.

Following the marriage, Buenaventura became styled as *Her Royal Highness* Princess Veronica, becoming the first immigrant, Filipino, Roman Catholic, non-Native Hawaiian, and commoner to marry into the Hawaiian royal family. The marriage became controversial in Hawaii, due to Veronica not resembling the typical Hawaiian royal; due to this, she instantly became a celebrity and polarizing figure, being hailed as a hero by the Filipino-Hawaiian community and younger generation, while receiving criticism from some Native Hawaiians and traditional conservatives.

After marrying, Francis and Veronica moved into Maluhia House on the grounds of ʻIolani Palace, the home that he spent one year of his early life in and where his mother was raised.

Francis and Veronica have two children together:

* Prince *Michael* John Mateo Makana (born 3 July 1986)
* Princess *Lucy* Alexandria Bea Gloria Kahalaomāpuana (born 30 December 1988)

## Titles

Upon his birth, Francis was styled as *His Royal Highness* Prince Francis.

* **25 December 1958 – present**: *His Royal Highness* Prince Francis