[1] She graduated from the College of Notre Dame in Belmont, California, in 1900, where she converted from Anglicanism, religion of her parents, to Roman Catholicism.

On January 6, 1902, by virtue of her marriage to Prince David Laʻamea Kahalepouli Kawānanakoa Piʻikoi, she became known as Princess Abigail.

Upon the death of her brother-in-law, Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole in 1922, Princess Abigail effectively became the leader of all native Hawaiians and took an active part in Hawaiʻi's politics as their advocate.

Unlike her brother-in-law Prince Kūhiō, Princess Abigail was a devoted Republican and worked to develop its platforms and pursue its ideals.

[citation needed] In the 1986 Television movie drama Blood & Orchids inspired by the 1932 Massie Trial, a character based on Abigail Campbell Kawānanakoa is not considered historically accurate.