Iolani Palace

Iolani Palace The official royal palace for the Kalakaua Dynasty, which ruled Hawaii from 1874 through 1893. We are located in downtown Honolulu.
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Iolani Palace is a Hawaiian and national treasure that depends on private support. To assure its unique cultural, historical and spiritual qualities are maintained for future generations, please consider a gift to The Friends of Iolani Palace, a 501(c)(3) organization with the sole responsibility to serve as guardian and steward to preserve, restore, interpret, share, and celebrate Iolani Palace. To learn more, call (808) 522-0822, or go online at www.iolanipalace.org.

On this day in 1889, King Kalākaua attended a lūʻau hosted by Daniel Paul Rice Isenberg, son of Paul and Hannah Rice Ise...
09/21/2026

On this day in 1889, King Kalākaua attended a lūʻau hosted by Daniel Paul Rice Isenberg, son of Paul and Hannah Rice Isenberg, at his Waiʻalae residence in honor of the Hawaiʻi Baseball League. The lūʻau featured speeches, toasts, and music by the Royal Hawaiian Band.

Isenberg street in Mōʻiliʻili is named after Paul Rice Isenberg, who was the president of the Mōʻiliʻili baseball league when the street was created.

The area’s connection to baseball continued for generations. Honolulu Stadium stood at South King and Isenberg streets for 49 years, and the baseball field at Mōʻiliʻili Neighborhood Park remains on Isenberg Street today.

Photo: Daniel Paul Rice Isenberg, Hawaiʻi State Archives

On September 20, 1892, a group of women presented to Queen Liliʻuokalani a petition opposing the lottery bill. Supported...
09/20/2026

On September 20, 1892, a group of women presented to Queen Liliʻuokalani a petition opposing the lottery bill.

Supported by Liliʻuokalani, the bill proposed establishing a lottery to raise government revenue as the Hawaiian Kingdom faced economic hardship due to the McKinley Tariff.

The bill passed by a vote of 23 to 20. The legislature closed its 1892-93 session on January 14, 1893. Three days later, Liliʻuokalani was deposed and the law did not take effect due to the change in government.

The Blue Room, located across the hall from the Throne Room, was used to hold small receptions and entertain informal au...
09/19/2026

The Blue Room, located across the hall from the Throne Room, was used to hold small receptions and entertain informal audiences. Its walls hold matching portraits of King Kalākaua and Queen Liliʻuokalani, both painted by American portraitist William Cogswell.

For stories about the Blue Room, visit the digital collection on our website.

Photo 1: Blue Room interior
Photo 2: Queen Kapiʻolani Evening Tours 2023

On this day in 1985, a major landscaping project to restore the grounds of ʻIolani Palace began with a blessing by Rev. ...
09/18/2026

On this day in 1985, a major landscaping project to restore the grounds of ʻIolani Palace began with a blessing by Rev. William Kaina of Kawaiahaʻo Church. The goal of the project was to reflect how the grounds appeared during the reigns of King Kalākaua and Queen Liliʻuokalani. Work included reconstructing the four gates, repairing the wall and fence, installing lighting, restoring the Coronation Pavilion and tomb areas, and replacing walkways.

Photo Credit: Keystone View Company

09/16/2026

Mahalo to everyone who joined us for Kamaʻāina Sunday at ʻIolani Palace!

From live entertainment and hands-on cultural activities to the launch of the Aloha de Mele x ALOHA Collection, we were grateful to welcome our community to the Palace grounds for a day of culture, creativity and connection.

Kamaʻāina Sunday is supported by the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority through the Kūkulu Ola Program and Hawaiian Native Corporation, LAUKOA.

Today is the 164th wedding anniversary of Lydia Kamakaʻeha and John O. Dominis. They originally planned to get married o...
09/16/2026

Today is the 164th wedding anniversary of Lydia Kamakaʻeha and John O. Dominis. They originally planned to get married on her 24th birthday, but the wedding was postponed following the death of Prince Albert Edward Kauikeaouli, the four-year-old son and heir of King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma.

The couple married two weeks later at Haleʻākala, the home of Charles R. and Bernice P. Bishop. A celebration followed the ceremony.

Photo: Haleʻākala, Hawaiʻi State Archives

In September 1881, Kalākaua visited Glasgow, Scotland. He was met by Mr. W. Renny Watson, who showed the King several of...
09/14/2026

In September 1881, Kalākaua visited Glasgow, Scotland. He was met by Mr. W. Renny Watson, who showed the King several of the leading shipbuilding yards. Watson was a partner in a firm that built equipment for processing sugar.

The next day, Kalākaua visited Loch Lomond, an expansive lake in Scotland that’s 23 miles long, more than 600 feet deep and spans more than 18,000 acres.

By 1888, when Watson and his wife visited Hawaiʻi as Kalākaua’s guests at the Palace, his company was one of the largest manufacturers of sugar machinery in the world.

Join us tomorrow for Kamaʻāina Sunday at ʻIolani Palace as we celebrate Hawaiian History Month and honor Queen Liliʻuoka...
09/12/2026

Join us tomorrow for Kamaʻāina Sunday at ʻIolani Palace as we celebrate Hawaiian History Month and honor Queen Liliʻuokalani’s birthday.

From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., kamaʻāina are invited to enjoy free audio tours, live performances by Hālau ʻO Nāpualaʻikauikaʻiu, the Kamehameha Schools Kapālama Hawaiian Ensemble and Kamalani featuring Hālau Hemomi Nani Makamae, Kumu Hula Gigi Kidder & Glory Pollard, along with cultural demonstrations and hands-on activities across the Palace grounds.

Bring your ʻohana and spend the day with us at ʻIolani Palace.

Kamaʻāina Sunday support is provided by Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority through the Kūkulu Ola Program and by Hawaiian Native Corporation, LAUKOA.

09/09/2026

A flower beloved by Queen Liliʻuokalani inspired a new collaboration marking 60 years of stewardship at Iolani Palace

Native Hawaiian artist JT Ojerio of Aloha de Mele shares the story behind the Pua Kalaunu Collection and what it meant to create artwork honoring the queen, the Palace and the history held here. Her hand-drawn design is featured across a special-edition collection created in collaboration with ALOHA Collection .

Mahalo, JT, for bringing such care and thoughtfulness to this collaboration and for helping us share this story through your art.

The Pua Kalaunu Collection debuts Sept. 13 during Kamaʻāina Sunday at ʻIolani Palace. A portion of profits will support the ongoing restoration and preservation of the Palace.

Learn the art of lauhala weaving at our September Kamaʻāina Sunday. Join Naomi Nascimento to create your own Lauhala Ant...
09/08/2026

Learn the art of lauhala weaving at our September Kamaʻāina Sunday. Join Naomi Nascimento to create your own Lauhala Anthurium during this hands-on workshop on Sunday, September 13.

The workshop runs from 9 a.m. to noon and is open to participants ages 16 and older. Participants ages 16 and 17 must have permission from a parent or guardian when registering. Only registered workshop participants will be permitted in the classroom.

In-person registration begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Kīnaʻu Gate on Richards Street. Space is limited to 30 participants and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Each participant must be present to register.

Address

PO Box 2259
Honolulu, HI
96813

Opening Hours

Tuesday 9am - 10am
10:30am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 10am
10:30am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 11:15am
12pm - 4pm
Saturday 9am - 4pm

Website

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