July 11 (AM) – Iolani Palace, Honolulu, Hawaii

We have found that the city buses are clearly the best, and most economical (just $5.50 for an all-day pass) way to travel around Honolulu.

Our first destination was the Iolani Palace …

represents a time in Hawaiian history when King Kalakaua

and his sister and successor, Queen Liliuokalani,

walked the halls and ruled the Kingdom of Hawaii.  

The cornerstone for Iolani Palace was laid on December 31,1879 with full Masonic rites and completed in 1882.  The Palace halls contain beautiful memories of grand balls and hula performances, as well as painful ones of Liliuokalani’s imprisonment and eventual overthrow.  Since the overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy, the Palace has undergone many changes as it once served as the Capitol for almost 80 years and was later vacated and restored to its original grandeur in the 1970s.

However, during the period from shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor until August of 1944, the Queen’s bedroom served as the headquarters for the U.S. military’s headquarters for martial law for the Philippines.

­­Queen Liliuokalani succeeded her brother upon his death on January 20, 1891. She was determined to strengthen the political power of the Hawaiian monarchy. Her attempts to affect change caused great opposition from the Committee of Safety, who later orchestrated the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy and the establishment of a provisional government with support of the American Minister to Hawaii.

Following the overthrow of the monarchy, Iolani Palace became the government headquarters for the Provisional Government. Following the overthrow, most of the palace’s original furnishings were sold at public auction and personal belongings were returned to the royal family. In the decades that followed, it also served as the government capitol building for the Republic, Territory, and eventually, State of Hawaii.

The Palace had both electricity and indoor plumbing well before the White House.

First Floor Hallway

Etched  Glass Windows

Grand Staircase to Second Floor Living Quarters

 

Blue Room

Dining Room

Clock

Music Room

Edison Music Box

Kitchen

Throne Room

Second Floor Hallway

Original Table

Yin and Yang

Sky Light

King's Bedroom

The King was a very private individual and even had covers installed over his key holes to prevent snoopers from observing or seeing him … throughout the palace

King's Connecting Office

Had three internal connections only

Queen's Bedroom Suite

Pavillion – where King Kalakaua held is Coronation

Armory – Situated on the Palace Grounds