The Only Royal Palace in America Made the White House Look Primitive in the 1800s

The Iolani Palace, Hawaii

Most people don’t realize the US has a legit royal palace – and it’s right in the middle of Honolulu. Iolani Palace was home to Hawaii’s last kings and queens, built in 1882 with seriously modern tech for its time.

The story behind it is pretty intense: it’s where Hawaii’s last queen was imprisoned after American businessmen and troops overthrew the monarchy, and today it tells the real story of how Hawaii became part of the US.

It Was More Advanced than the White House

In 1887, King Kalakaua installed 325 lights throughout the palace after seeing Thomas Edison’s invention at the 1881 Paris Exposition.

The king didn’t stop there. He introduced an electrically wired Chickering piano, making this palace a technological wonder of its era.

He also added flush toilets when most Americans were still using outhouses, an internal telephone system with 21 stations, and hot running water.

Why The Palace Is Named After A Hawk

Iolani means “Heavenly Hawk” or “Royal Hawk” in Hawaiian, originally referring to Kamehameha IV who carried this name.

The palace you can visit today replaced an earlier building called Hale Ali’i (“House of the Chief”) that was torn down in 1874. Building the current American Florentine-style palace cost $360,000, which would be millions in today’s money.

Construction was completed in 1882, with the cornerstone laid on December 31, 1879, using full Masonic ceremonies because King Kalakaua was Hawaii’s first Masonic monarch.

The Ancient Temple That Once Stood Here

The land beneath the palace once held an ancient Hawaiian temple called Ka’ahaimauli, built during Kakuhihewa’s reign in the 1500s and dedicated to the god Lono.

As you walk around the palace grounds, you’re walking where Hawaiian nobility once performed important sacred rituals. Some of the stones from this original temple were later used to build the first palace structures.

Archaeological findings now have revealed the temple was actually taken apart around 1819 after the kapu system ended.

The Quilt A Queen Made While Imprisoned

During her eight-month imprisonment in her own palace following the 1895 counter-revolution attempt, Queen Liliuokalani channeled her creativity into quilting.

The “Queen’s Quilt” she created features detailed appliqué work with names, Bible verses, and symbolic emblems. Measuring 97″ x 95″, the quilt contains 20 blocks with embroidered dates from January to July 1895.

You can see this moving piece of history displayed in the very room where she was confined, a powerful symbol of her resilience in difficult times.

How King Kalakaua Saved Hawaiian Traditions

King Kalakaua, known as the “Merrie Monarch,” played a crucial role in bringing back Hawaiian cultural practices when they were nearly wiped out by Western influence.

He composed “Hawaii Ponoi,” which remains Hawaii’s state anthem even today, and wrote lyrics for “Kaulana Na Pua,” a song that resisted American annexation.

The king made a bold move in 1883 by organizing a public hula performance at his coronation, the first after missionaries had banned this traditional practice.

His personal music collection included compositions for string quartets. The annual Merrie Monarch Festival continues to honor his cultural preservation efforts.

When A Royal Home Became Government Offices

After the monarchy fell in 1893, the palace underwent a dramatic transformation.

With the royal furnishings removed, it became the government headquarters. The throne room served as the legislative chamber, while royal bedrooms turned into offices.

For 80 years, the building was simply called the “Executive Building.”

When Hawaii became a state in 1959, preservationists began pushing to restore the palace in a $7.5 million restoration project. The palace was reopened as a museum in 1978, coinciding with Hawaii’s Bicentennial celebration.

The King’s Coronation

At the Coronation Pavilion on the palace grounds, you’ll see a 1983 replica of where King Kalakaua had his coronation ceremony on February 12, 1883.

Around 8,000 people attended this grand event, which included a 21-gun salute and representatives from 17 different countries. The king designed a special coronation medal himself, which was given to important guests at the ceremony.

The original pavilion deteriorated over time, but this replica marks the historic spot.

Recreating The Royal Wardrobe

The Throne Room features an amazing reproduction of King Kalakaua’s coronation suit, created by designer Iris Viacrusis in 2021.

The original outfit, worn on February 12, 1883, was decorated with gold embroidery, brass buttons, and included a ceremonial sword.

In the King’s Library, you can also see his recreated Masonic apron, highlighting his role as Hawaii’s first Masonic king. If you take the Fashion Fit for Royalty Tour, you’ll get to see Queen Kapiolani’s peacock-blue coronation gown.

The Only True Royal Palace In America

Iolani Palace is the only official royal residence in the U.S. built for a reigning monarch.

Recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1962, in 1978 it became the first restored historic building in Hawaii to be made accessible according to ADA standards.

This unique status has welcomed royal visitors from around the world, including Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II in a 1975 visit and Japan’s Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko in 2009, who came to pay respects to Hawaii’s former monarchs.

Listen To The Same Band Kings And Queens Heard

You can hear living history if you visit on a Friday at noon, when the Royal Hawaiian Band performs on the palace grounds.

This band was started in 1836 by King Kamehameha III as “The King’s Band,” making it older than the Boston Pops and one of America’s oldest municipal bands.

It began with just twelve Hawaiian musicians playing Western instruments but grew larger under King Kalakaua’s support. They continue a tradition from Queen Liliuokalani’s time, who herself composed more than 150 songs during her life.

A Throne Room Turned Into A Trial Court

The Throne Room once hosted royal balls and diplomatic receptions but served a very different purpose in 1895, as the courtroom for Queen Liliuokalani’s trial.

She faced charges of misprision of treason after weapons were found buried in her garden, allegedly for use in a counter-revolution.

Wearing all black, the Queen endured a five-day military tribunal.

Though the charge could have resulted in execution, she was sentenced to five years hard labor, which was later reduced to house arrest in the palace.

Interestingly, the prosecutor was William A. Kinney, whose son later became a strong advocate for preserving Hawaiian culture.

Tracking Down The Missing Royal Furniture

When restoration began, only three original pieces of furniture remained in the palace while the rest were auctioned, scattered worldwide, or hidden by loyal citizens.

For decades, the Friends of Iolani Palace have been tracking down these lost treasures through international auctions, private collections, and family attics across the globe.

The recoveries include Queen Liliuokalani’s piano, King Kalakaua’s bed, bought back from a missionary descendant’s granddaughter, and the royal dining table, recently relocated from the governor’s residence in 2021.

The search continues for more original pieces.

Visiting Iolani Palace in 2025

Located at 364 S King St in downtown Honolulu, Iolani Palace is open Tuesday–Saturday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. (ticket office opens at 8:30 a.m.).

2025 Admission:

• Adults: $32.95 | Teens: $29.95 | Kids (5–12): $14.95 | Under 5: Free

Tours include Docent-Led or Self-Led Audio options, covering the first and second floors plus basement galleries. Visits last 60–90 minutes.