Within the coronary heart of downtown Honolulu, ʻIolani Palace stands as an impressive reminder of Hawaiʻi’s royal previous—the one official royal palace on U.S. soil. Usually referred to as the Grand Dame of architectural splendor, she’s greater than only a constructing—she’s the soul of a Kingdom as soon as misplaced. Surrounding it, numerous different historic sites dot the Iolani Palace space, portray a vivid image of the monarchy, its legacy, and the pivotal moments that formed trendy Hawaiʻi.
Entrance view of ‘Iolani Palace, Photograph credit score ‘Iolani Palace
‘Iolani Palace
Location: 364 King St. on the nook of King and Richards St.
A Nationwide Historic Landmark, ʻIolani Palace is the one royal residence in the USA. In-built 1882, it was the guts of the Kingdom of Hawai‘i’s political and social life till the monarchy was overthrown in 1893.
King Kalākaua, impressed by a go to with Thomas Edison, outfitted the palace with electrical lights, indoor plumbing, and telephones—earlier than the White Home. However only a few years later, American businessmen deposed the monarchy. In 1895, after a failed try to revive Queen Liliʻuokalani, she was tried in her personal throne room and positioned underneath home arrest upstairs. She lived the remainder of her life in exile, by no means recognizing U.S. annexation.
Restored and reopened in 1978, right this moment ʻIolani Palace stands as a museum and image of Hawaiian sovereignty, the place guests can stroll the identical halls as soon as graced by kings and queens.
Visiting the Palace
Discover the grandeur of ʻIolani Palace on a guided tour that takes you thru the primary and second flooring. Excursions can be found Tuesday via Saturday, 9 a.m. to four p.m., with tickets obtainable on the Hale Koa (ʻIolani Barracks) ticket workplace. Stroll the peaceable palace grounds, or deepen your connection by turning into a member of the Buddies of ʻIolani Palace—members take pleasure in free admission, reductions, and unique perks.
Discover out how one can get ‘Iolani Palace tickets to tour the inside of Iolani Palace and its grounds.
Keli’iponi Hale, the Coronation Pavilion, Photograph credit score ‘Iolani Palace
Keli‘iponi Hale – The Coronation Pavilion
Location: On the Palace grounds dealing with King Road
That is the place King Kalākaua, nicknamed the Merrie Monarch, was coronated in 1883. It was right here that King Kalākaua topped himself—ushering within the Kalākaua Dynasty and marking the top of the Kamehameha line.
The primary reigning monarch to circumnavigate the globe, he met with leaders in international locations from Japan and Egypt to France and the U.S. His 1874 go to to Washington, D.C., led to President Ulysses S. Grant internet hosting the first-ever State Dinner for a overseas head of state on the White Home.
At his coronation, Kalākaua positioned the crown on his personal head, honoring conventional Hawaiian perception that nobody touches the top of an aliʻi nui (excessive chief or king). Although he had already been ruling since 1874, this symbolic second solidified his reign.
Right this moment, the Coronation Pavilion remains to be in use, internet hosting official ceremonies and performances by the Royal Hawaiian Band—a convention began by King Kamehameha III that continues with 40 members enjoying at parades and state occasions.
Professional Tip: Each Friday from midday to 1 p.m. they host a free public live performance at Keliiponi Hale – the Coronation Pavilion.
Hale Koa – ‘Iolani Barracks was constructed to deal with the Royal Guard, Photograph credit score ‘Iolani Palace
Hale Koa (Home of Warriors) aka ‘Iolani Barracks
Location: On the Palace grounds on the Richards St. aspect
In-built 1871, the coral block construction as soon as housed members of the monarch’s Royal Guard till the overthrow of the Monarchy in 1893. It had a multitude corridor, kitchen, dispensary, sleeping rooms and lockup.
After the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy and disbanding of the Royal Guard, ‘Iolani Barracks served completely different functions through the years. They sheltered refugees of the 1899 Chinatown fireplace and served because the headquarters for the Nationwide Guard of Hawai‘i.
Initially situated on what are actually the grounds of the Hawaii State Capitol, the barracks have been moved, stone by stone, to the present website in 1965. Hale Koa now homes The Palace Store, ticket workplace and video theatre.
Pohukaina aka Sacred Mound
Location: Southeast quadrant of the Palace grounds
Pohukaina or the Sacred Mound, is a fenced-in grassy mound that marks what was as soon as the Royal Mausoleum. In 1825, employees constructed a mausoleum of white-washed coral block to deal with the stays of Kamehameha II (Liholiho) and his Queen Kamāmalu. Each died of measles whereas on a visit to England.
Over time, the ancestral stays of different aliʻi (excessive chiefs) – coffins and earlier grave materials – out of their unique burial caves, have been introduced and buried at Pohukaina. It’s mentioned that prime chiefs from way back to the 1500s have been delivered to be buried at Pohukaina. In 1865, the stays of 21 ali‘i have been faraway from this location and carried in a torchlight procession at night time to Mauna ‘Ala, the brand new Royal Mausoleum in Nu‘uanu Valley.
Preservation and Restoration
Over time, the preservation and restoration of ʻIolani Palace have been a monumental effort. Starting within the 1970s, the palace was meticulously restored to its unique splendor, with lots of its unique furnishings and artifacts recovered, repaired, and replicated. The State of Hawaii and the Palace Preservation Society spearheaded the undertaking with vital funding and sources. In 1978, the palace was reopened to the general public, reworking it right into a cherished cultural and historic landmark. Right this moment, ʻIolani Palace stands as a testomony to the dedication and dedication to preserving Hawaii’s royal heritage, inviting guests to step again in time and expertise the grandeur of the Hawaiian monarchy.
Ali’iolani Hale was the place the proclamation was publicly learn overthrowing the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893.
Ali‘iolani Hale
Location: 417 S. King St. (throughout from ‘Iolani Palace)
You would possibly acknowledge Aliʻiōlani Hale from the unique Hawaii 5-0—the enduring constructing made a number of on-screen appearances. Its real-life historical past is much more dramatic.
That means “Home of the Heavenly King,” the constructing was initially supposed as a royal palace for Kamehameha V in 1872. Nonetheless, the king in the end designated it as a authorities heart for the Kingdom of Hawai‘i. The royal residence would later be constructed close by at ʻIolani Palace.
Aliʻiōlani Hale performed a pivotal position in considered one of Hawai‘i’s darkest chapters. Within the lead-up to the 1893 overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, the Committee of Security, led by Lorrin Thurston and backed by American sugar pursuits, met on the constructing’s second ground to plan the coup. On January 17, 1893, after U.S. troops landed and positioned cannons towards the palace, a proclamation from Aliʻiōlani’s balcony declared Queen Liliʻuokalani deposed. To stop bloodshed, the Queen surrendered peacefully to what she referred to as “the superior power of the USA of America.”
Right this moment, Aliʻiōlani Hale homes the Hawaiʻi State Supreme Courtroom and the Judiciary Historical past Middle, that includes displays, a restored courtroom, and a deeper look into the islands’ authorized and political previous.
The King Kamehameha statue is festooned with flower leis on his birthday June 11.
King Kamehameha Statue
Location: In entrance of Ali‘iolani Hale
The long-lasting Kamehameha I statue could also be one of the crucial photographed spots in Honolulu—nevertheless it’s not the unique.
Commissioned by King Kalākaua to mark the 100th anniversary of Captain Cook dinner’s arrival, the statue was sculpted in Italy and solid in France. En path to Hawai‘i, it was misplaced in a shipwreck off South America. A second casting was shortly made and unveiled throughout Kalākaua’s 1883 coronation, proper the place it stands right this moment.
Enjoyable Truth: The unique statue was later salvaged and despatched to Kapaʻau in Kohala on the Large Island—Kamehameha’s birthplace. Since then, two extra replicas have been made: one for the U.S. Capitol’s Statuary Corridor in Washington, D.C., and one other initially created for Kaua‘i, which was later put in in Hilo, the place Kamehameha as soon as dominated.
These have been the primary everlasting homes constructed for the American missionaries who got here to O’ahu in 1821.
Hawaiian Mission Homes
Location: 553 S. King St.
American missionaries arrived in Kona on the Large Island in 1820, the yr after Kamehameha I died. The next yr, a brand new group of missionaries traveled to O‘ahu to unfold the gospel additional. Space chiefs welcomed them, and Kamehameha II granted them land to choose. Hawaiian laborers constructed momentary thatched houses, adopted by extra everlasting Western-style constructions.
The Hawaiian Mission Homes are a number of the oldest surviving constructions on O‘ahu and a Nationwide Historic Landmark. Guests can discover how the early Protestant missionaries lived, and buildings which have survived for over 200 years.
HMH preserves Hawai‘i’s oldest Western-style home, inbuilt 1821, together with the 1831 Chamberlain Home, the 1841 Bed room Annex, a historic cemetery, collections vault, present store, and multi-use areas. The positioning additionally features a analysis library and archive with over 80,000 digital objects, together with one of many world’s largest collections of Hawaiian-language printed supplies. By faculty applications, guided excursions, and award-winning historic theater, HMH brings historical past to life.
Kawaiaha’o Church nonetheless holds weekly church providers and is an exercise group useful resource.
Kawaiahao Church
Location: 957 Punchbowl St.
Constructed on sacred land as soon as granted to missionaries by Kamehameha II, Kawaiahaʻo Church stands as considered one of Hawai‘i’s most revered historic websites. The land was dwelling to a freshwater spring cherished by Chiefess Ha‘o, giving the church its title—Ka Wai a Ha‘o, or “the water of Ha‘o.”
Nicknamed “The Nice Stone Church,” it was constructed from 14,000 hand-chiseled coral blocks, quarried underwater by Native Hawaiians who dove as much as 20 toes deep. It took 5 years of labor, with the church devoted in 1842 earlier than a crowd of 5,000, together with King Kamehameha III.
Often called each the “Westminster Abbey of the Pacific” and “The Church of the Ali‘i,” Kawaiahaʻo is a state and nationwide historic landmark. Simply east of ʻIolani Palace, it stays an lively place of worship, with Sunday providers at 9 a.m., and is taken into account the premier Hawaiian Congregational Church within the islands.
Uncover the free audio tour of Kawaiaha’o Church and its historical past.
Kawaiaha’o Fountain beside the church
Kawaiaha‘o Fountain
Location: On the left aspect of the church constructing from the Entrance Entrance
The freshwater spring that Chiefess Ha‘o beloved continues to movement from a stone outcrop subsequent to the church constructing.
The Tomb of Lunalilo who needed to be buried nearer to the individuals.
Tomb of Lunalilo
Location: On the precise, main as much as the Kawaiaha‘o Church entrance
King Lunalilo, the sixth monarch of Hawai‘i, dominated for only one yr however left a long-lasting legacy because the Individuals’s King. Deeply beloved by commoners, he championed democracy and believed management ought to be chosen by the individuals—not inherited by bloodline.
Although his predecessor, Kamehameha V, didn’t title a successor, the legislature appointed Lunalilo. He insisted on a public vote and have become Hawai‘i’s first elected monarch in 1873. Earlier than his premature demise at age 39 in 1874, Lunalilo requested to be buried at Kawaiaha‘o Church, among the many individuals he served, reasonably than on the Royal Mausoleum with different ali‘i.
Washington Place, the non-public dwelling of Lili’uokalani.
Washington Place
Location: 320 S. Beretania St.
A chosen Nationwide Historic Landmark, the previous private residence of Queen Liliʻuokalani and her husband John Dominis, is open to the general public for free excursions each Thursday at 10 a.m. Spots ebook up shortly — reserve yours here.
Washington Place performed a central position in Hawai‘i’s historical past—from the ultimate days of the monarchy to its path to statehood in 1959. Additionally, it served because the official residence for Hawai‘i’s governors from 1919 to 2002.
Right this moment, whereas Washington Place continues to host official occasions and ceremonies, the governor resides in a more moderen dwelling situated simply behind it on the identical grounds.
A digital on-line tour is right here: https://washingtonplace.hawaii.gov/tours-and-gardens/
The Hawaii State Capitol is the official statehouse or capitol constructing of the U.S. state of Hawaii – Honolulu, USA
Hawai‘i State Capitol Constructing
Location: 415 S. Beretania St.
The Hawai‘i State Capitol Constructing homes the workplaces of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, workplaces of state legislators, and the chambers of the state Home and Senate. Hawai‘i Governor John Burns commissioned the constructing in 1965 and accomplished it in 1969. Its design is “Hawaiian worldwide structure” and displays and symbolizes the pure facets of the Hawaiian Islands.
The capitol has an open-air design surrounded by a reflecting pool symbolizing the Pacific Ocean. The central atrium opens to the sky permitting solar, wind and rain to enter.
Study extra in regards to the vital meanings behind architectural details at the Hawaii State Capitol Building.
Liliuokalani Statue stands between ‘Iolani Palace and the Capitol Constructing.
Statue of Lili‘uokalani
Location: Between the State Capitol and ‘Iolani Palace
“The Spirit of Liliʻuokalani” is a six-foot bronze statue honoring Hawai‘i’s final reigning monarch. Created by artist Marianna Pineda, the statue was solid in Boston and devoted on April 10, 1982.
The sculpture portrays Queen Liliʻuokalani as a dignified sovereign, cultural guardian, and composer. In her left hand, she holds three highly effective symbols of her legacy:
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The sheet music for “Aloha ‘Oe,” her most beloved composition
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A web page from the 1893 Hawai‘i Structure
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The Kumulipo, the traditional Hawaiian creation chant she translated throughout her 1895 imprisonment
Her placement isn’t simply symbolic. As scholar Manalo-Camp famous, the Queen isn’t merely “keeping track of the Legislature”—she walks among the many individuals, ever current within the civic and cultural coronary heart of Hawai‘i.
Design Your Personal Iolani Palace Tour Map
Use these addresses to customise your own historic walking tour across the ‘Iolani Palace district.
Blissful Exploring!
