IOLANI PALACE FIRST IN HAWAII TO USE 3D SCANNING TECHNOLOGY FOR VIRTUAL TOURS

HONOLULU (April 5, 2016) – Iolani Palace has partnered with LNG3D Hawaii to create the first 3D model of a Hawaii historic site that allows online visitors to virtually tour the iconic royal residence. The online tour allows visitors to roam through the building beyond the stanchions, climb the majestic koa staircase, and see remarkable artifacts on display using their computers or mobile devices.

“We are always striving to enhance the visitor experience to Iolani Palace and a 3D virtual tour was the natural next step in providing greater access,” said Kippen de Alba Chu, executive director of The Friends of Iolani Palace. “The virtual tour is not a replacement for experiencing the Palace in person, rather it gives guests an opportunity to re-live a past visit, view artifacts in more detail, or take a glimpse into what they can expect on an upcoming trip to the Palace.”

The 3D virtual tour of Iolani Palace is available online at www.IolaniPalace.org. The project, which was made possible through a $30,000 grant from the Robert Emens Black Fund at the Hawaii Community Foundation, also captured drone aerial video and imagery of the Palace exterior and grounds, as well as interior architectural photos.

LNG3D Hawaii, a subsidiary of one of Canada’s leading architectural and 3D visualization firms, LNG Studios, created the 3D tour and doll house model using Matterport 3D scanning technology. Using proprietary software, the 3D scan creates an immersive experience for the interior space by gaining access to areas not typically allowed to the public. With Iolani Palace, over 200 scan locations were conducted to 3D map its interior. The resulting three-dimensional tour allows visitors to “walkthrough” the Palace from anywhere in the world.

“We are very honored to help capture and digitize a significant piece of Hawaii’s history,” commented Leon Ng, founder and president of LNG Studios. “This will serve as a great tool to showcase the robust history of Iolani Palace to the entire world.”