‘Iolani Palace is located in the capitol district of Honolulu, and is the only royal palace that exists on US soil. It’s unique architecture is not to be found anywhere else in the world and is called “American Florentine.”
During the reign of King Kalakaua, he ordered his older palace destroyed and a new one to be built befitting the monarch of the modern era. The cornerstone of this new palace was laid on December 31, 1879, and completed in November 1882 at a cost of over $340,000. The Palace was outfitted with both electricity and telephones even before the White House in the US capitol.
The grand hall on the first floor faces a staircase of “Koa” wood, and ornamental plaster decorates the interior. The throne room, the blue meeting room, and the dining room are all adjacent to the grand hall. Upstairs contains the private library and bedrooms of the Hawaiian Monarchs.
Before the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, two monarchs would call the palace home, King Kalakaua, and Queen Lili’uokalani. After the overthrow of the monarchy in 1893, the palace was used as the capitol building for the Provisional Government, Republic, Territory, and the State of Hawai’i until 1969.
After the capitol building was relocated, Iolani Palace fell into disrepair due to years of neglect. In 1978 the palace was restored to its former glory and opened as a museum.
Visit this and many other Honolulu landmarks like Kawaiaha’o Church & Kamehameha’s famous statue on the many Honolulu City Tours provided by Polynesian Adventure Activities.
