My Tour of Iolani Palace – A Cutlural Treasure in Downtown Honolulu

Published
Categorized as Oahu Vacation Information

Last night I stayed in an Oahu Vacation Rental and in the morning I took a walk through downtown Honolulu where there are many historic buildings.

Perhaps the most spectacular of all of these historic structures is Iolani Palace, which was the royal palace of the Hawaiian monarchy for King Kalakaua and Queen Kapiolani from 1882 to 1891. Then it was the royal palace for Queen Liliuokalani for the next two years, until the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893.

Iolani Palace was a project of King Kalakaua. Iolani was one of names of Kamehameha IV, and was also a sacred hawk of Hawaiian mythology. The architectural style of the palace is said to be “American Florentine” architecture, or “American Composite.”

After the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, Iolani Palace was used as the capitol building of the Republic of Hawaii (1893-1900), and then as the capitol building for the Territory of Hawaii (1900-1959), and eventually for the State of Hawaii (1960-1969). During this time, Iolani Palace was known as the Executive Building.

At least four years before the United States’ White House installed electricity, the original gas lamps in Iolani Palace were replaced with electric lights. King Kalakaua was very interested in new technology, and once met Thomas Edison. Electric lights were installed at Iolani Palace on July 21, 1886.

Within two years Honolulu’s streetlights, which were formerly gasoline lamps, were also replaced with electric lights. Iolani Palace was also ahead of its time in other ways, including hot and cold running water, flushing toilets and bidets, copper-lined tubs and other amenities.

Beautifully crafted native and Polynesian-introduced woods such as koa, kou, kamani (Alexandrian laurel), and ohia lehua were used throughout the interior along with other fine hardwoods.

The royal family resided on the second floor of Iolani Palace and formal functions were held on the main floor. An attic helped keep the building cool, and the basement of the palace housed the Palace kitchen and was the place where all the silver, wines, food and other materials were stored in order to supply the lavish social events held at the Palace. A dumbwaiter transported the royal meals up to the first and second floors.

The various rooms of Iolani Palace each have their own decor and their own history, including the church-like Grand Hall, which spans the width of the palace. Royal portraits line the walls of the Grand Hall and ten kings and queens of the monarchy on display.

From the Grand Hall guests were escorted into the adjoining reception rooms. A prominent koa wood staircase in the Grand Hall leads to the second floor’s Upper Hall (described below).

On display in the Blue Room are matching portraits of King Kalakaua and Queen Liliuokalani.

Renowned portraitist Franz-Xavier Winterhalter created the portrait of King Louis Philippe of France, which is also on display in the Blue Room. The painting was a gift from the French government to King Kamehameha III (Kauikeaouli) in 1848.

Adjoining the Blue Room is the State Dining Room, which is adorned with portraits of world leaders from Russia, England, France, and Germany. Bohemian crystal and Paris porcelain add to the aura of formality of this elegant room. After the overthrow of the monarchy, the State Dining Room was used as the Senate Chambers by the Territory and then by the State of Hawaii.

Another first floor room is the Throne Room, which contains numerous historic artifacts such as the original thrones of both King Kalakaua and Queen Liliuokalani.

Gold and maroon colors decorate the Throne Room along with symbols of Hawaiian royalty, such as kahili (royal feather standards), and a puloulou, consisting of a gold sphere atop a 7-foot spiral, ivory tusk from a narwhal whale.

The Throne Room was used for formal receptions, and is also where King Kalakaua and Queen Kapiolani threw elaborate and grand balls. The king was also known to dance the Virginia reel and polka, and sometimes waltzed through the night.

A grand koa wood staircase ascends to the second floor’s Upper Hall, which was used for private dining and sometimes for displaying royal possessions, such as kahili (royal feather standards) and ahu ula (royal feather capes and cloaks).

Rooms on the second floor include the King’s Suite (King Kalakaua’s bedroom), the King’s Library, the Gold Room, and Queen Kapiolani’s Bedroom. Also on the second floor is Queen Liliuokalani’s Prison Chamber, where she was imprisoned for eight months after the overthrow of the monarchy.

The Gold Room, also called the Music Room, was used for gatherings of the royal family. After the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, the Minister of Foreign Affairs used the Gold Room.

Queen Kapiolani’s Bedroom, which is on the Waikiki side of the building, is decorated with red upholstery and curtains, and mahogany furniture. After the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, the Attorney General used the room.

On January 16, 1895 Queen Liliuokalani was imprisoned in Iolani Palace. The Queen was confined to a sparsely furnished second floor room now referred to as Queen Liliuokalani’s Prison Chamber.

During this time the deposed queen was allowed paper and pencils to write, but was not allowed to read newspapers or books. Now on display in this room (under glass) is the queen’s hand-stitched silk quilt. During her imprisonment, Queen Liliuokalani stitched into this quilt the Hawaiian flag as well as the names of people who remained loyal to her during this monumental political crisis.

I am staying in a Oahu Vacation Rental tonight not far from downtown Honolulu, and tomorrow I am going to go again on the guided tour of Iolani Palace, a true cultural treasure.