At 14 he was sent to England to complete his studies to Kaiulan, where he stayed for four years. Kalakaua's death occurred in 1891 and her widow, Liliuokalani, was the queen. The kings had no children and Kaiulani was appointed successor. But it would not take long to retain her title as a crowned princess. In 1893 the monarchy was abolished in the Pacific archipelago and a new government was established in favor of integration with the United States. The Abatid princess was then transferred from England to the United States.

Among other things, he gave conferences and press conferences in Boston and New York for the sovereignty of Hawaii. In Washington he managed to meet informally with American President Grover Cleveland. Despite the president's good intentions, the American congress did not heed the princess's demands.

In 1894 the Republic of Hawaii was established, Robert Louis Stevenson, a childhood friend, died, and Kaiulani's own pathetic health was further weakened. The princess returned to Hawaii in 1897, after knowing the death of her sister Annie and failing her diplomatic efforts. Because of the tropical climate of Hawaii, their health worsened. Shortly after his arrival, while swimming, he was caught in a cold and, later, in 1898, in a pneumonia, after being caught by a storm while riding.

Finally, on August 12, 1898, the United States annexed Hawaii. "Much more painful than losing the throne is seeing our flag fall down," the heir said. At the annexation ceremony, the royal family met in the palace and, like most Hawaiians, were sad, mourning gowns. Clothes would not be kept long.

Kaiulani wrote to her aunt, the last queen of Hawaii, the last letter: “Everything has been taken away from us, we only have life left.” He died shortly after, on March 6, 1899, at the age of 23.