She was born of high aliʻi descent, through her father, Gideon Kailipalaki Laʻanui, a brother of Elizabeth Kekaʻaniau who attended the Chiefs Children's School and was deemed eligible to the throne by King Kamehameha III.

The Gazette later merged with the Advertiser, combining the voice of their occupied government as their newspaper was a mechanism to promote their regime through journalism.

[18] She had left the ball with U.S. vice president, Theodore Roosevelt to get something to eat because the snacks of sherbet and punch was to slim for her Hawaiian appetite.

[18] After the death of her husband Robert Wilcox in 1903, she remained active in Hawai`i politics and made national news,[19] she was called upon by many, such as Queen Dowager Margherita of Savoy,[20] Prince Ferdinando, Duke of Genoa[21] and the Chinese Consul, Chang Tso Fan during a reception on New Years Day.

[26][27] When Queen Liliʻuokalani died on November 11, 1917, two controversial wills of her estate were being presented for probate,[28] the first one, a trust deed which was executed on December 2, 1909, was already in litigation for several years by Prince Kuhio.

[29][30] He filed a lawsuit against the trustees on November 30, 1915, for an annulment of the 1909 trust deed as being a result of a conspiracy on the part of Curtis Iaukea and John Aimoku Dominis.

[29] The other presented will dated on August 29, 1917, caused much debate of who would have immediate authority over Lili`uokalani's funeral services and her estate.

[31] The 1917 will, said to be Lili`uokalani's last will and testament, divided her estate to Theresa and her two children, Elizabeth Keka`aniau, Prince David Kawananakoa and children, Aimoku Dominis and children, Fred Iaukea, Mrs Huchison, Curtis Iaukea, Mrs Lahilahi Webb, Mrs. Waikiki Heleluhe and daughter, Mrs. Kahae Aea, Mrs. Kahanuʻu Meek, Mrs Mary Auld, Mrs. Lilia Auld, Mrs. Laura Puhiula, Mrs. Kaahawelani and children, Mrs. Paakai Ulaula Bush and children, Mrs. Chas Guilick, Mrs. Ellen Dwight, Mrs. Anaole, Saint Andrews Cathedral, Leahi Home, Board of Health, Leper Colony Settlement, Lili`uokalani School, Wainee Church, Mrs. Hakanoaloha Mana, Mrs. Jennie Clark and Fred Beckley, (Presented at 840 a.m. November 19, 1917, clerks office), (#1142 Received and filed in the Supreme Court, Nov. 11, 1918, Robert Parker Jr., assistant clerk), Hawai`i State Archives.

John F Colburn, former manager and treasurer of Kapiolani's estate was the executor of the will,[28] his lawyers brought in the witnesses to interrogate and examine them in separate rooms.

[32] Soon after, Kamakaia was paid a large sum of money ($900.00) by an unknown foreigner and suddenly changed his story and said he lied and that the queen did not sign the will.

[35] She further stated that upon Prince Kuhio's lawsuit against the trustees, the queen had asked to prepare another will so she may leave something for her and her children since they were related.

[30] But Theresa was found guilty and in 1918, she was sentenced to three years of hard labor in prison for conspiracy in the first degree along with James Kealoha.

[35] Four other court cases surrounded Kuhio's lawsuit to dissolve Liliuokalani's trust and claim next of kin to the queen's estate.

Kauahaka had a husband by the name of Kaukahele and born was Kamaikaopa who married Gideon Kailipalaki La`anui and had Theresa.

[40] Her aunt, Elizabeth Keka`aniau testified in court that it was true along with other testimony from her mother's sister and by elder Hawaiians.

[33] Both the 1917 alleged forged will and the lawsuit of Prince Kuhio against the Lili`uokalani's trustees, delayed the distribution of the queen's estate up to six years.

[54] In 1942, a huge luau was given for her birthday, some of the events were sponsored on the part of Mayor Petrie, endorsing the Royal Hawaiian Band to serenade her at her house on 7th avenue in Kaimuki where the celebration was held.

She continued throughout her life to stake claims for the restoration of the monarchy and inheritance of the crown lands that were being held and used by the Territory of Hawaii.

[59] Theresa Owana Ka`ohelelani died on January 5, 1944, at The Queen's Hospital and was buried at the Puea Cemetery in Kalihi.,[1] but was later removed and cremated.