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The ʻIolani Palace was the royal residence of the rulers of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi beginning with Kamehameha III under the Kamehameha Dynasty and ending with Queen Liliʻuokalani under the Kalākaua Dynasty, founded by her brother, King David Kalākaua.

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The ʻIolani Palace was the royal residence of the rulers of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi beginning with Kamehameha III under the Kamehameha Dynasty and ending with Queen Liliʻuokalani under the Kalākaua Dynasty, founded by her brother, King David Kalākaua.

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Short History: Iolani Palace, located in downtown Honolulu, is a historic site of immense cultural significance in Hawaii. It was the official residence of the Hawaiian monarchs from 1882 to 1893, and it remains the only royal palace on U.S. soil. Built by King Kalākaua, the palace was a symbol of the Hawaiian Kingdom’s modernity and status among nations. The palace served as the royal residence until the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893, after which it became the Capitol building for the Provisional Government and later the Territory of Hawaii until it was restored and opened to the public as a museum in 1978. Tickets and Admission: Tickets for Iolani Palace can be purchased online or at the entrance. It’s recommended to buy tickets in advance, especially during peak tourist seasons, as time slots can sell out quickly. General admission for a guided tour is around $30 for adults, with discounted rates for children, seniors, and military personnel. Self-guided tours are also available at a lower cost, typically around $20. Audio guides are included, providing detailed explanations as you explore the palace at your own pace. Wait Times and Hours Required: The wait times at Iolani Palace are generally manageable, especially if you’ve booked tickets in advance. If you arrive without a reservation, you might have to wait for the next available tour, but the wait is usually under 30 minutes. The palace itself takes about 90 minutes to two hours to tour, depending on your pace and interest level. The guided tours are well-timed, allowing you to explore the key areas of the palace without feeling rushed. If you plan to explore the grounds and visit the gift shop, budget around two to three hours for the entire experience. Parking: Parking around Iolani Palace can be challenging, as it’s located in a busy part of downtown Honolulu. There’s a small metered parking lot adjacent to the palace, but spaces fill up quickly, especially during peak hours. Street parking is available but limited, and you may need to walk a bit if you can’t find a spot nearby. Alternatively, paid parking garages are within walking distance, such as the Alii Place parking garage, which is a short stroll away. Public transportation is also a viable option, with several bus routes stopping close to the palace. Crowd: The palace attracts a steady stream of visitors, but it rarely feels overcrowded, thanks to the timed entry system. Mornings tend to be quieter, making it an ideal time for a more relaxed experience. Weekdays generally see fewer tourists compared to weekends. The interior of the palace is spacious, allowing you to move through the rooms without feeling cramped, even when the tours are at full capacity. Food and Dining Options: There are no food services available within Iolani Palace itself, but there are several dining options nearby in downtown Honolulu. The palace is just a short walk from the vibrant Chinatown district. Major Attractions: The major attractions within Iolani Palace include the Grand Hall, where you can admire the sweeping koa wood staircase and portraits of Hawaiian royalty. The Throne Room, with its crimson and gold decor, is where official ceremonies and royal balls were held. The Blue Room, used for informal gatherings, houses European furnishings and Hawaiian artifacts. The King’s and Queen’s private suites offer a glimpse into the personal lives of the monarchy, complete with period furnishings and personal items. The basement of the palace is home to a museum that showcases the regalia of the Hawaiian Kingdom, including the crown jewels, royal orders, and a collection of historic photographs and documents. The palace grounds, with their well-manicured lawns and ancient banyan trees, provide a peaceful setting to reflect on the history and significance of the site. Iolani Palace is a must-visit for anyone interested in Hawaiian history and culture.

Vijay ThakkarVijay Thakkar
00

This place is full of history and timeless artifacts, information about the personal lives of the royal family and their relatives. You have your choice of several tours, you should pick a tour well in advance. With each visit to each room, and every floor, which by the way the building is Ada accessible as it includes ramps and an elevator for those in walkers wheelchairs etc, with every floor you feel the spirit and palpable emotions of days gone by. Of a lost era in time. It goes through the history of the annexation of Hawaii. It covers the course of time when Sanford Dole, and the Dole plantation used all of their political power in Washington, to essentially buy and take over Hawaii for their own monetary gain. You will see personal information about the children of the king the niece of the queen, her beautiful, intelligent and compassionate niece the Princess. You'll learn about the surfing history and the sons of the king brought surfing to Santa Cruz California. And right underneath the Santa Cruz Pier you will see a small surf shop museum, and in the museum are portraits of the Hawaiian Kings sons and nephews. They actually introduced surfing to California. I think for that alone, we here in the state should at least honor them for that. But sadly we do not honor this family for some reason. For some reason they have been written out of our history books, and not talked of what actually happened when the United States took over, and not acquired Hawaii. The tour of this regal palace, the only Palace in the United States, is a once in a lifetime event. An event that takes time and patience and listening skills. You certainly do not want to forget a camera. You may take lots of photos but no videos and no flashes during pictures. You will be required to wear shoe coverings over your shoes or take off your shoes and wear them over your socks. Expect to be led by a tour guide. They will not allow you to wonder about the palace unattended they have officials and tour guides on all floors and all areas. When you come to Hawaii you should not miss this tour. Is one that will open your eyes to the beautiful history of Hawaii and her accompanying Islands.

Kym McCarty-MorlanKym McCarty-Morlan
60

Did you know Iolani Palace had electricity before the White House? Did you also know that it is the only royal palace in the US? You'll learn this and so much more when you take a guided tour through this beautiful, sacred place. My husband & I opted for the White Glove tour, which was incredible. We recommend it for people who are already familiar with the monarchy. Having this knowledge beforehand will really increase your appreciation for the palace and significance of every item. We absolutely loved the tour. We got to go behind the ropes! I was not expecting this. Our educator/guide, Zita, was very familiar with every facet of the palace and more than willing to share her knowledge with our group. On top of that, Zita answered every question kindly and thoroughly. You can tell she really enjoys what she does. After touring the first and second floors, we were taken to the attic and introduced to Chase, who is a member of the curating team. Chase prepared several pieces that were relevant to the day / week in which we visited. I was surprised to learn the origins of some of the pieces (one piece in particular was from the equivalent of a Sear's catalog) and was impressed with others (like the beautiful 'umeke and the royal order that had over 16 carats of diamonds in it!) Getting to touch these pieces, inspect them closely, and learn directly from a professional was such a treat. I cannot thank Zita and Chase enough for the time and energy they poured into our tour, which went a bit longer than originally anticipated. I am very glad that Iolani Palace has caretakers as wonderful as Zita and Chase.

Jones SJones S
20

We paid for a docent led tour of the palace and I am glad we did,. We begin our tour in gift shop areas before being led to the palace for some short instructions and foot coverings. Our docent began the tour with an overview of HM King Kamehameha The Great and how he united the 8 kingdoms of Hawaii into one. We then toured the entertainment spaces of the palace and learned how HM King Kalākaua and his wife use the palace to entertain and more importantly how they used entrainment as a form of diplomacy. We then ventured into the private family areas where we learned about the private functions of the royal family. Sadly, we learned about the final monarch and how U.S. businessmen, with the help of our armed forces, overthrew HM The Queen and ended the more than 100 year monarchy, despite the wills of the native Hawaiians. Our docent was then so kind as to take us to the basement level, which isn’t apart of the docent-led tour, and give us a brief discuss and Q&A session before we were free to tour the basement which included the Lord Chamberlain’s office and relics of Their Majesties King Kalākaua and Queen Kapiʻolani as while as some jewels from Queen Liliʻuokalani.

Emmanuel LawrenceEmmanuel Lawrence
10

This is a tour that many visitors to the islands will miss because it's not a beach, but this is a must see/do. The palace is truly magnificent, and a true state of the art building at the time it was built, with plumbing, flush toilets, and electric lights before the White House. It is the story/history of Hawaii that is told by the palace that is essential for visitors. How Hawaii was annexed by the United States is a story not known by many who visit these islands. The building, the restored and preserved contents, the stories, and displays are worth the time out of the sunshine. The self-guided tour allows you to take your time and go back to take another look once you have a little more context. There are benches you can sit on if you're getting a little weary walking around, or if you just want to reflect at different times during the tour. Don't skip the basement! There's a lot of information and context to be gained by spending some time in the basement. In fact the basement is a good place to start if you can get there a little early.

Bob AtkinBob Atkin
30

This is a small museum dedicated to the royalties of Hawaii, with artifacts gathered and placed to recreate the atmosphere of a working monarchy of then. You can take a self guided tour with a listening device that tells the history of the royalties but I understand there are conducted small group tours which needs to be booked in advance. You'll walk through most of the rooms within the Palace and imagine how things might have been when full working staff was serving the monarchy. The tour of the Palace can be finished within an hour or less, but you can walk around the compounds which is quite big and peaceful. Depending on the reason of your visit, and the company you're with, you may consider skipping this place if you're pressed for time or not keen on learning about the summarised history of the monarchy. It is also probably not interesting for children as there are no specific children activities for them. Otherwise it is still a nice place to visit to understand how the royalties conducted their lives then.

Benjamin LauBenjamin Lau
10
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Phone

(808) 522-0822

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Website

iolanipalace.org

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Deep Dive

A deep dive into Iolani Palace