'Iolani Palace | Honolulu, O'ahu

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. 

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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

Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden | Windward, O'ahu

There are five state botanical gardens on O'ahu. Ho'omaluhia Botanical garden is the largest boasting 400 lush acres. Tucked up against the beautiful Ko'olau mountains, you'll find mostly trees in this garden, but you'll have lots of room and many activities to keep the family busy. You can feed the ducks and fish, stroll the gardens and park, fish, and even camp here. 

the grounds outside near the parking lot.

visitor center.

There are large rolling hills, a covered pavilion with tables, and many picnic tables throughout the park for you to enjoy a nice lunch. 

looking up.

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must see: if botanical gardens are your thing, yes. this is one of five here on o'ahu and one of my favorites.

parking: yes, free in the lot.

bathrooms: yes

good for kids: yes, feed fishes and ducks, recreational catch/release fishing.

approximate time needed: 2 hours depending on how much you choose to do.

suggested items to bring: camera, insect repellent, sunscreen, bread (to feed fishes/ducks)

tip 1: make an afternoon of it and pack a lunch or snack. camping is also allowed..check website for details.

tip 2: fishing allowed during certain hours only; make sure to check schedule.

what to do after: play a round of mini golf at bay view mini-putt. here on a thursday? check out the kailua farmer's market.

45-680 Luluku Road| Kaneohe, HI | 96744

Friendship Garden | Windward, O'ahu

Looking for a path less traveled? Friendship Garden on the windward side of O'ahu is a little slice of heaven boasting acres of beautiful flora, history, and peaceful solitude. Tucked away in this residential neighborhood, you'll find a short loop trail (probably less than a mile) with a small clearing that overlooks Kaneohe Bay. 

While you could easily do this garden trail in 30 minutes, it's just as easy to lose yourself in nature. After the exploration, photo ops, and my short periscope, we found ourselves leaving almost two hours later. If you find yourself on this side of the island, it's an easy trail that won't take up your entire day. Since most of the trail is covered, you would be fine hiking at any time of the day.

here's a peek of the bay.

this place is full of history...read about it here.

trailhead.

you can see how narrow the road is with space for only two cars fronting the trailhead. they are currently working on the roads, so that takes away some parking as well. your tires must be completely off the road.

looking up from the road, you can see the little pavilion. there' you'll find information and maps.

the loose needles and branches can be slippery in some areas.

beautiful "wall" of red ginger.

bamboo forest.

from the trail looking into the neighborhood...beautiful homes, some of which look like tree-houses.

the payoff...views of Kaneohe Bay, Coconut Island, and Chinaman's Hat.

*          *          *

must see: no

parking: very limited, only two spaces in front of the trailhead, then you will need to find parking in the neighborhood.

bathrooms: no

good for kids: yes because it's fairly short and flat.

(you know your child best)

approximate time needed: 30-45 minutes round-trip to the lookout, depending on how long you take in the views.

suggested items to bring: camera, insect repellent

tip 1: some of the residents are really friendly while others will have your car towed. do not block any driveways and make sure all tires are off the road when parking.

what to do after: play a round of mini golf at bay view mini-putt. or pack a lunch and enjoy it at ho'omaluhia botanical garden.

45-219 Kokokahi Place | Kaneohe, HI | 96744