Up for a bit of Hawaiian history? Tour the palace that once housed Hawaiian royalty for a glimpse of what life was like in the late 1800s. You'll get a feel for how King Kalakaua and Queen Liliuokalani entertained guests and dignitaries, what they wore, which rooms they relaxed in, and where they dined prior to the overthrow of the monarchy in 1893.
I recently had the opportunity to tour 'Iolani Palace as well as perform some community service work polishing and dusting some of the furniture (with white gloves on!). Below are a few snaps from my day, but it's worth seeing in person.
the dining room.
the toilet and tub (below)!
parties would take place here. guests would dance here, then move over
to the dining room for dinner.
replica of one of the queen's dresses.
the gold room. they would play music here.
music player.
cute book stand with original books.
telephone.
king's office/den.
beautiful details on the ceilings.
telephone!
the office...official documents on the desk!
hidden parlor towards the back of the room. see it in the corner?
the king played cards with friends back in that room.
a book pulled out of the archives for cleaning.
* * *
must see: yes, for hawaiian history
entrance fee: $20-27 for adults, $6 kids (under 4 free)
parking: yes, on grounds, also street parking
bathrooms: yes
good for kids: most areas have fragile items, no running or playing, etc, no personal strollers (you may use theirs)
concession: no as food or drink not allowed,
but there is a small gift shop
approximate time needed: 1-2 hours
suggested items to bring: camera. photography is allowed, but no video.
tip 1: take the guided tour. the docents are very knowledgeable and give you some fun facts you may not hear in the audio/self-guided tour.
what to do after: take a quick look around the state capitol. if you are here during the christmas season, check out the decorated trees at honolulu hale.
364 S. King Street
Honolulu, HI | 96813
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