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
