Built in 1882 for King Kalakaua, the ‘Iolani Palace is the only vestige of a royal palace in the United States. The palace was home to Hawaii’s last two monarchs, King Kalakaua and Queen Lili’uokalani, until the Hawaiian monarchy was overthrown by the U.S. government in 1893. Not always the sight of merriment, the palace once served as a prison for Queen Lili’uokalani during 1985. Accused by the Republic of Hawaii of misprision treason, she was sentenced to an 8-month imprisonment in her bedroom.

The palace was built at a cost to the Kingdom of Hawai’i of $360,000. Featuring over 7,000 feet of koa wood, your guided tour includes a video of palace history and views of the curved staircase, dining room, throne room, and blue room. A self-guided tour of the palace basement, exhibiting crown jewels of Hawaiian royalty and other ancient regalia, is also available.Proper respect is required upon entering the palace; water, gum, candy, ballpoint pens, and photographs are not allowed. Cell phones and beepers must be turned off, and booties are required at all times.

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Tours of the ‘Iolani Palace are given Tuesday-Saturday from 9:00am-2:15pm.

Tours begin every 15 minutes, and are 45 minutes long.