The US isn’t typically the country travelers think of when they want to explore palaces, but the US does actually have a single official royal palace within its borders.
Located on Oahu, Iolani Palace still stands tall to this day. Originally built in 1882, Iolani Palace served as the royal residence for Hawaii’s final monarchs—King Kalākaua, his wife Queen Kapiʻolani, and his sister Queen Liliʻuokalani—until the Hawaiian Kingdom was overthrown in 1893.
Driving through downtown Honolulu, it is impossible to miss the formidable Iolani Palace. Sitting atop lush, sprawling grounds, the palace features American Florentine and Italian Renaissance touches, complete with open verandas and striking corner towers.
King Kalākaua’s reign transformed Hawaii into a vibrant, cosmopolitan hub of culture and innovation. Commissioned by King Kalākaua himself, he pulled architectural inspiration from the grand palaces of Europe, yet the palace was still famously ahead of its time. The Hawaiian royals supported the arts and modern technology—with their palace featuring indoor plumbing, a telephone, and electricity five years before the White House. But this golden era ended in the US-led 1893 coup, resulting in Queen Lili’uokalani’s forced abdication.
Two years after she abdicated her throne, a group of Hawaiian royalists held an armed revolt in an attempt to restore the monarchy. The provisional government ultimately blamed Queen Lili’uokalani for the violent revolt, and she was tried and found guilty for misprision of treason. As punishment, Queen Lili’uokalani was locked away in her bedroom inside the Iolani Palace for eight months.
Recently, the palace was restored to its former glory, after being used as a government building for almost 80 years. Travelers can now tour the palace grounds, taking in the grand sights like the palace’s crystal chandeliers and grand koa wood staircase. But people can also see some smaller remnants of the royal family, like sheet music they composed, China they used, or the bedroom Queen Lili’uokalani was locked inside of for the length of her imprisonment (complete with the patchwork quilt she created from clothing scraps throughout her sentence).
Typically, the palace is open Tuesday to Saturday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., and closed on holidays. Tickets can also vary in price, with self-guided tours running significantly cheaper than the White Glove tours. For the latest information on touring Iolani Palace, it’s best to check the official Iolani Palace website to learn more.
