Iolani Palace

Iolani Palace is routinely billed as the only royal palace located on American soil, and while this statement is true, it only tells part of the story of this impressive historic site. During the final decades of the nineteenth century, the Kingdom of Hawaii’s royal family called this magnificent estate home; visitors today can tour its elegant rooms, walk its lovely grounds, and come face to face with a wide range of artifacts that tell the history of this unique place.

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Iolani Palace History

Tradition holds that the land on which Iolani Palace stands today is of special importance; many maintain that it was, in ancient times, either a burial ground or a place of worship—or possibly at one time or another, both. With this history in mind, a sizable estate was built here in 1844; it served as the royal residence of King Kamehameha III after he moved the capital of his kingdom from Lahaina to Honolulu in 1845. For the next three decades this residence would serve the Hawaiian royal family; it was eventually demolished in 1874 to make way for a new, more modern structure—the ornate building we know today as Iolani Palace.

Work began on the new Iolani Palace near the end of 1879, and some three years later the project was finished. When complete, the building was a wonder for its time: it had indoor plumbing, a telephone, and electric lights. For approximately ten years the Hawaiian royal family lived here, until their rule was ended when the Kingdom of Hawaii was overthrown by a coup perpetrated by a group of individuals wishing to bring the islands under direct control of the United States. Visitors today can view the palace room where Queen Liliuokalani was imprisoned for eight months in the wake of these events.

What’s at Iolani Palace

The majority of visitors to Iolani Palace enjoy taking the attraction’s self-guided audio tour; in fact, this is the only tour available to guests on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. The self-guided audio tour covers the lavishly appointed rooms of the palace’s first and second floors with a special emphasis on the site’s furniture. Throughout the four palatial bedrooms located on the second floor, for instance, guests will notice significant similarities in décor: this is because Iolani Palace was outfitted with a whopping 225 pieces of furniture from the same company, one A.H. Davenport Co. of Boston.

In addition to its famous furniture, Iolani Palace possesses an impressive collection of tableware, glassware, and silver; likewise, the palace houses an array of military accessories and clothing that date back to the reign of King Kalakaua. Prominent rooms of note worth paying special attention to during your visit are the Throne Room, the King’s Library, and the Blue Room, where you’ll encounter large portraits of the King and Queen courtesy of the artist William Cogswell.

For those visitors with a particular interest in the palace, it’s worth noting that there are several other guided tours available to the public every Wednesday and Thursday. These include offerings like the Chamberlain’s Tour, which focuses on what the palace experience would have been like for employees of the royal staff; the Hawaii’s Royal Connection to Japan Tour, a specialty experience that explores the history of the rich relationship between those two kingdoms; and a highly informative docent-led tour, just to name a few.

You’ll find the Palace Shop located in Hale Koa, also known as the Barracks; it’s adjacent to the Palace, right near where you can purchase an admissions ticket or present your Go Oahu All-Inclusive Pass for entry. The Palace Shop sells a fun assortment of souvenirs, books, toys, apparel, commemorative merchandise, and more.

Tips for Visiting Iolani Palace

*Befitting an attraction of its magnitude, the Iolani Palace occupies a prime location squarely in the heart of downtown Honolulu. As a result, parking here can be very tricky. Your best bet is to try to park (for a small fee) on the grounds of the palace; should that option be unavailable to you during your visit, there is limited street parking in the area, as well as a parking garage two blocks north at Alii Place.

*Families visiting Iolani Palace with small children will want to pay attention to the attraction’s rules regarding the conduct of kids. All children under the age of five years old must be placed in a front-held infant carrier or strapped in a stroller at all times. Note: your family cannot bring along its own stroller; instead, you must use a palace-issued stroller, which is available free of charge for the duration of your visit.

*Backpacks, strollers, luggage, and so-called “large bags” are strictly prohibited at Iolani Palace. You may also not be in possession of any food or beverages during your time here.

*Unless you decide to go with one of the attraction’s many specialty tours, the self-guided audio tour is an essential part of the Iolani Palace experience. The palace will provide earbuds or headphones to those requiring them; when in doubt, bring along your own, as they’re liable to prove more comfortable. The self-guided audio tour lasts approximately 60 minutes, and is available in English, Hawaiian, Japanese, German, Italian, French, Korean, Spanish, and Mandarin.

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