H.R.H. Princess Idony Punahele
Ke ali'i (H.R.H. Princess) Idony Punahele Hoapili was appointed the Head of the royal organizational entity that represents the Hoapili Baker Family royal name, heritage and legacy, appointed by the legal Senior Heir and Head of the Hoapili Baker Family, ke ali'i (H.R.H. Prince) George 'Ī'ī Baker, on January 10th, 2020. Effective January 10, 2022, ke ali'i Idony Punahele continues her position as Head with the name of the Royal House federally changed in Hawai'i to the Royal House of Hawai'i – Ka Hale Ali'i O Hoapili Baker.
Born and raised on the island of Oahu, ke ali'i Idony Punahele Hoapili has two Hawaiian middle names, Punahele, and an ancestral name of her family, Hoapili. After high school in Honolulu ke ali'i Idony took the intiative to study and work internationally, following in the footsteps and vision of her royal ancestors, Princess Victoria Ka'iulani, King David Kalākaua and his cousin and aide-de-camp Prince Colonel Robert Hoapili Baker I.
On September 30th, 2023, ke ali'i Idony Punahele wed an illustrious personage of royal blood from one of the oldest European family lines with a ruling heritage that dates back three millenia, an honorable humanitarian and philanthropist from multiple, pan-European royal bloodlines and high noble bloodlines, the former Officer-in-Chief and very proactive and appreciated monarchist, H.E. Senhor (Lord) Alfredo Côrte-Real of Portugal
In the consultation and blessings of her kupuna and family, ke ali'i Idony Punahele Hoapili made a wise decision for the Royal legacy of Hawai'i, and for King Kalakaua's international vision, by marrying into antiquity and esteemed royal blood with the man she respects and loves.
Ke ali'i Idony Punahele Hoapili is adept in the art of languages, an area that she enjoys and a skill that she relies on in her responsibilities serving as the Head of the Royal Family. Multilingual in French, Italian and Russian, she continues to develop her communicative skills in Portuguese and Spanish, and she is learning Danish and Greek. She is always eager to learn more 'Ōlelo Hawai'i (Native Hawaiian), a language that was forbidden to be spoken by the American Provisional Government under threat of severe penalties and which Queen Lili'u'okalani bade her people not to speak in the interest of their safety. It is a language that has slowly and cautiously been resurfacing since the Hawaiian cultural renaissance in the 1970's and 1980's and now enjoys some fluency again in a steadily growing number of Hawaiian language immersion schools.
Ke Ali'i Idony Punahele is a Catholic Christian and was baptized in her infancy in the Church of the Holy Trinity in her native Hawai'i Kai, Oahu. Active at an early age in gymnastics and at halau hula (school of Hawaiian dance), she cultivated her appreciation for the art of ancient Hawaiian dance with her grandmother in Halau Hula O Maiki under the direction of Kumu (Instructor) Maiki Aiu Lake, and later dancing in Halau Hula Kamamolikolehua under the direction of Kumu Hula Pohai Souza. In high school ke ali'i Idony Punahele excelled in the studies of languages, history and theatre. The ancient Hawaiian culture, craftsmanship, combat, poetry, legends and the expression of hula kahiko (ancient style of dance) profoundly impact upon ke ali'i Idony Punahele's professional work in cinema and fine art as acutely appreciated sources of inspiration. She has been involved in the film industry and on film sets with some of her family members since the age of seven.
After high school in Honolulu ke ali'i Idony Punahele took the intiative to study and work internationally, following in the footsteps and vision of her royal ancestors.
As the Royal Heir of the non-ruling Royal House of Hawai'i, H.R.H. Princess Idony Punahele and H.R.H. Prince Alfredo attends annual state ceremonies and events of royal tribute to kings and queens of the Kingdom of Hawai'i every year with her family in Hawai'i.