ʻIolani Palace

ʻIolani Palace in Honolulu was completed in 1882 under King Kalākaua and served as the residence of Hawaiʻi's rulers until the monarchy was overthrown in 1893. It is regarded as the only official royal residence in the United States and has been a National Historic Landmark since 1962. Kalākaua was succeeded by his sister Liliʻuokalani, the last reigning monarch, who was placed under arrest in the palace after a failed uprising in 1895. The building then housed the government until 1969; restoration began in the 1970s, and it opened as a museum in 1978, with recovered original pieces and reproductions.

You can visit the palace on a docent-led tour, with an audio guide or on special tours; what is offered depends on the day of the week. Please reserve online in advance, as visits without a reservation are not offered. The palace is open Tuesday to Saturday (as of October 2026) and closed on public holidays. It stands at the corner of King Street and Richards Street in downtown Honolulu.