Mrs. Libbie Kahooluhi Kula (1876-1919) of Koloa, Kauai, was the Kauai Princess of the Floral Parade seen by thousands in Honolulu on Saturday, Feb. 21, 1914. On that day, she road a beautiful bay horse provided by Chris Holt and
Mrs. Libbie Kahooluhi Kula (1876-1919) of Koloa, Kauai, was the Kauai Princess of the Floral Parade seen by thousands in Honolulu on Saturday, Feb. 21, 1914.
On that day, she road a beautiful bay horse provided by Chris Holt and wore a purple velvet cape and purple satin pa‘u — a skirt worn by women horseback riders — with wreath and leis of Kauai maile and mokihana.
Her herald, Master Thomas Wright, was dressed in a purple sash and mokihana leis, and her retinue, in black capes, purple pa‘u habits and mokihana leis were: Misses Elizabeth Duvauchelle, Annie Robinson, Dallas Zablan, Mokihana Daniels, Lydia Martin and Olympia Franca; her aides were E. J. Gay and George Cox.
“Spouting Horn,” the float representing Kauai in the Floral Parade, was designed and constructed by Kauai Representative John H. Coney of Niumalu.
By means of a concealed tank of water and a pump on the float, spray was forced into the air through a painted model of the Spouting Horn in imitation of the real Spouting Horn at Poipu.
Libbie Kula’s obituary, printed in The Garden Island newspaper on April 29, 1919, read as follows:
“The death of Mrs. James K. Kula is reported from Honolulu where she died at the Queen’s Hospital, April 24th. Mrs. Kula was born and brought up in Koloa, where they lived until recently, and where they have still have a home.
“Mrs. Kula was an exceptionally capable, intelligent, attractive and winsome woman, closely identified with all matters of interest and well-being to her race, and always ready to lend a helping hand to any and every good cause.
“Richly endowed with native graces and virtue that characterize the Hawaiian race, everyone liked her that knew her, and she leaves a host of friends to mourn her departure.”
