Prince Michael

**Michael** (Michael John Mateo Makana; born 3 July 1986) is the elder child of Prince Francis and second-in-line to the Hawaiian throne. He is expected to become a future king of Hawaii.

Michael was born at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children in Honolulu as the elder child and only son of Prince Francis and his wife Veronica Buenaventura. Upon his birth, he became second-in-line to the Hawaiian throne, behind his father.

Michael completed his education at Kamehameha Schools – Kapālama in 2004, where he played on the varsity football team. After graduating, he enrolled in the University of Hawaii, Manoa to study political science, but transferred to Columbia University in New York City after one year, graduating in 2008, returning to Hawaii afterwards. Michael married Hawaiian singer and actress Katy Wu in 2017, after dating for five years. They have one child together: Princess Eleanor.

## Early life

Michael was born on 3 July 1986 at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children in Honolulu with the birth name *Michael John Mateo Makana ʻŌpūnui*. His parents are Prince Francis and Princess Veronica. His father is the eldest child of Queen Keʻalohilani, while his mother is a Filipino immigrant to Hawaii and former pediatric nurse. Like other Hawaiian royals, Michael was raised bilingually in English and Hawaiian, but also can understand Bicolano and Filipino.

Michael was raised in Maluhia House on the grounds of ʻIolani Palace, the former home of both his father and grandmother. When Michael was two years old, his younger sister Princess Lucy was born.

## Youth and education

Michael began his education in 1991, after being enrolled at Kamehameha Schools – Kapālama, a private, coeducational, preparatory school for primarily Native Hawaiian students. While in school, Michael was an athlete, who excelled in football. He began high school in 2000, where he was a popular student who played on the varsity football team, graduating in 2004.

After graduating, Michael enrolled in the University of Hawaii, Manoa to study political science. After one year at the school, Michael moved to New York City and transferred to Columbia University. He graduated from Columbia with his bachelor's degree in 2008, and subsequently returned to Hawaii.

## Marriage and family

Michael met Hawaiian singer and actress Katy Wu while both were presenters at the 2012 Hawaii Blu Awards. Their relationship was highly publicized in the Hawaiian media, due to Wu's status as a major celebrity. They became engaged in 2015, and later married in a royal wedding on 25 March 2017.

Following the marriage, Katy became styled as *Her Royal Highness* Princess Katy, and opted to retire from her entertainment career in order to prioritize her royal duties. She is the second person of primarily Asian descent and non-Native Hawaiian to marry into the royal family, following Michael's mother Princess Veronica. After marrying, Michael and Katy moved into Honualani House on the grounds of ʻIolani Palace.

Michael and Katy have one child together:

* Princess *Eleanor* Rosalie Jane Piʻikea (born 29 September 2019)

## Titles

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

* **3 July 1986 – present**: *His Royal Highness* Prince Michael