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

Iolani Palace

The official royal palace for the Kalakaua Dynasty, which ruled Hawaii from 1874 through 1893. We are located in downtown Honolulu.
(3889)

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.

08/25/2026

In late August 1881, Kalākaua visited the International Exposition of Electric Light in Paris.

He joined Mr. Siemens and other electrical engineers for the inaugural ride of the first electric streetcar put into service in the city. The streetcar traveled rapidly between the Palace of Industry and the Place de la Concorde.

The Spanish newspaper La Correspondencia de España reported on the momentous occasion in its August 31, 1881 issue.

Photo: Electric streetcar in Paris, August 1881 (Siemens)

08/23/2026

During her tour of the Hawaiian Kingdom, Queen Liliʻuokalani delivered an address in ʻEwa on August 23, 1891.

After reviewing accomplishments from her brother’s reign, Her Majesty spoke aobut the responsibility before her:

“...but now he is no more and the burden of conducting the government and the nation has fallen upon me. This is a great and difficult undertaking, and it can only be achieved by joining our shoulders together to the task.”

Her words call to mind an ʻōlelo noʻeau: “ʻAʻohe hana nui ke alu ʻia”, meaning no task too big when done together by all.

08/22/2026

On this day in 1889, the Daily Bulletin newspaper published an account of a royal dinner hosted the previous evening by His Majesty King Kalākaua in honor of the Lieutenant Commander and officers of the U.S.S. Nipsic.

The menu included mock turtle soup, soup a la reine, boiled kūmū, fried mullet, oyster pates, pigeon on toast, pudding, ice cream, and fruit.

Photo 1: U.S.S. Nipsic

Photo 2: ʻIolani Palace dinner menu from December 14, 1883 (Hawaiʻi State Archives)

https://cdm17266.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p17266coll1/id/2011/rec/1

08/21/2026

On August 21, 1891, Queen Liliʻuokalani was on a journey around the Hawaiian Kingdom.

She left Honolulu aboard the steamer Kaʻala, bound for Waiʻanae. Accompanying her were Prince Kawānanakoa, Prince Kalanianaʻole, His Excellency Samuel Parker, Mrs. C. B. Wilson, Mrs. Charles Clark, the Royal Hawaiian Band, and several other friends.

The Kaʻala arrived in Waiʻanae around noon. Speeches were followed by a reception at a Waiʻanae church. The Queen departed on Friday morning.

Photo: Lililʻuokalani in Waimānalo, another stop on her journey around the Hawaiian Kingdom (Hawaiʻi State Archives)

08/20/2026

Meet ʻIolani Palace’s longest-serving active volunteer, Jean Rolles!

Jean has served as a Palace docent for 49 years, sharing its history and legacy with generations of visitors. Although she no longer leads tours, she continues to volunteer every Saturday and assist with Evening Tours.

Her decades of service has inspired fellow volunteers and staff and and helped countless guests connect with the history of ʻIolani Palace.

Pictured from L to R: Jim Bartels, Zita Cup Choy, Jean Rolles, Rosemary Eberhardt, Jean St. John, and Dorothy Kendall – photo taken in 2002, 25 years after their first docent class

08/19/2026

🎈The Palace Shop celebrates 42 years in August!🎈 Help us celebrate! Online orders get a free gift with purchase for the month of August. Order online and receive a FREE Crown of Hawaiʻi lapel pin. 👑

Opening in 1984, The Palace Shop started off selling educational books and postcards. We have evolved much over the years. While you can still certainly find an ample assortment of educational books and postcards, we are also proud to offer exclusive ʻIolani Palace memorabilia as well as goods and crafts from local artists and beyond!

As always, proceeds from The Palace Shop go directly towards preserving the legacy of ʻIolani Palace! Mahalo nui loa! 🙏🏽

www.iolanipalace.org/visit/palace-shop

08/17/2026

The Hawaiʻi State Archives offers digital copies of letters King Kalākaua wrote during his 1881 journey around the world.

His itinerary from August 17 to 25 included Madrid and Lisbon. After returning to London, Kalākaua wrote to William L. Green, the Kingdom’s Minister of Foreign Affairs:

“Our trip to Spain and Portugal has been most successful. The King (Spain) was absent but placed all the facilities of travel in our hands. The King of Portugal received us with open arms and was extremely kind to us during our stay in Lisbon.”

Pictured: An excerpt from a letter written by Kalākaua on September 1, 1881 (Hawaiʻi State Archives)

08/16/2026

On August 16, 1983, the King’s library was unveiled following restoration work made possible by a grant from GTE Hawaiian Telcom.

The project marked the 100th anniversaries of King Kalākaua’s coronation and the chartering of the Mutual Telephone Company, now known as Hawaiian Telcom.

During the monarchy era, the library was one of only three rooms in the Palace with a telephone. The king had this new technology installed five years after the telephone was invented. The second phone was in the Chamberlain’s Office in the basement, allowing the king to communicate with his chamberlain at any time. The third was in Kapiʻolani’s bedroom on the second floor.

Photo: Kalākaua working in his library with one of three telephones in ʻIolani Palace on the wall behind him (Hawaiʻi State Archives)

08/14/2026

On August 14, 1890, Judge S. K. Mahoe, chairman of a 58-member delegation, presented King Kalākaua with a petition calling for a Constitutional Convention.

The petition commented:

“Whereas, Your Majesty was forced to abolish the Constitution of Kamehameha V without allowing you proper time to consider and consult with Your Subjects...”

“Whereas, Voting rights granted in 1864 and amended in 1873 and 1874 were taken away...”

“Whereas, Objections to the constitution are obstructing all manner of work and promotion of peace...”

His Majesty replied:

“In reply to the petition presented to me by the delegates from the several electoral districts of the Kingdom, I announce through you and the other delegates, to my people, that their requests shall receive my consideration. I commend the propriety with which you have presented the wishes of the people, using your constitutional right to present their petition for the redress of grievances. I shall submit the matter to the Legislature and request that body to take the steps required to carry out the desires of my people, in whose behalf this petition has been laid before me.”

Photo 1: Kalākaua, Hawaiʻi State Archives

Photo 2: Petition signatures, Hawaiʻi State Archives

08/13/2026

The Kapa Expo is tomorrow at ʻIolani Palace!

Spend Aloha Friday with us on Aug. 14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for a free celebration of kapa, the traditional Hawaiian barkcloth. Meet dozens of kapa makers from across the islands, see their artistry up close and take part in the kapa-making process under the big tent.

You can also visit the Hale Koa Barracks video room to learn about the history of kapa and its many traditional uses.

The Kapa Expo is part of the 2026 Kuku Kapa E A Kapa Makers Conference. The event is free and open to the public.

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

http://www.iolanipalace.org/

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