ʻIolani Palace

ʻIolani Palace is the official royal residence of the Hawaiian monarchy in downtown Honolulu, completed in 1882 and later converted to a museum. It is the only royal palace on United States soil and is a central historic landmark of modern Hawaiian history.

Guided tours lead through restored interior rooms and exhibitions that display objects, royal regalia and interpretive material about the monarchy and the 1893 overthrow. The site also includes adjacent historic structures and landscaped grounds that form the palace complex.

Built under King Kalākaua as a modern royal residence, the palace served the monarchy until the end of the Hawaiian Kingdom; it was later used for government offices and underwent an extensive restoration in the 20th century to return much of the interior to its historic appearance.

The palace sits in downtown Honolulu between the Hawaii State Capitol and other civic buildings, easily reached from most parts of the city and served by local transport.

• Completion date: The palace was completed in 1882 and served as the official royal residence of the Hawaiian monarchy.
• Unique status: It is the only royal palace on U.S. soil and is operated as a museum with guided tours of interior rooms and exhibitions.

What to See #

• Palace building: The restored palace building contains historic rooms and exhibition spaces that interpret the Hawaiian monarchy; original interior features were returned during a multi-decade restoration programme.
• Iolani Barracks and grounds: The adjacent Iolani Barracks and the grounds form part of the historic complex and are often included in guided site tours.