Taken By: Loren Javier
The beautiful Iolani Palace, located in downtown Honolulu, was once the home of Hawaii’s last two monarchs and is the only royal palace found in the current United States.
In 1879, King Kalakaua, who had traveled widely and admired the palaces of Europe, commissioned this grand new structure to be built on the site of the existing royal residence. It was a wonder in its time, outfitted with indoor plumbing, telephones, and newly invented electric lights. The king and his wife moved into the palace in 1882. During his reign, Kalakaua was often called the “Merrie Monarch” because of his love for entertaining, culture, and the arts. In 1891, the king died with no heir and his sister Lili’uokalani became Hawaii’s last queen, reigning for only two years before Hawaii became a territory of the United States. Later, when a group of loyal followers tried to restore her to the throne, Lili’uokalani was imprisoned in the palace for eight months. After her release, the royal furnishings were auctioned off and the building served as a government headquarters until 1969, when the current capitol was built. A plan was then conceived to restore the vacant palace it to its former splendor.
Today, the restoration is complete. The palace’s original furniture has been recovered from all over the world (though many pieces are still missing) and visitors can see its lavish interior for themselves. On your guided or audio tour of this magnificent royal residence, your group will see the palace’s throne room, library, state rooms, and dining room, as well as an ornate koa wood staircase and the rooms where Lili’uokalani was held prisoner. Make sure you visit the museum on the lower level, where you can admire the royal jewelry collection and see many other artifacts from the Hawaiian monarchy. Outside the palace, take a stroll around the grounds and you will see an elegant gazebo, barracks where the royal guards were housed, a statue of Queen Lili’uokalani, and the famous statue of King Kamehameha across the street.
Though the city of Honolulu has grown up around Iolani Palace, one step inside this historic gem will take you back to a Hawaii of yesteryear, a time when the monarchs reigned.
