HONOLULU (July 18, 2023) – Guests of ‘Iolani Palace will have a clearer view of the Queen Liliʻuokalani quilt after The Friends of ‘Iolani Palace installed a new plexiglass case to protect one of the most important pieces of Hawaiian history.
Displayed in the second-floor bedroom where Queen Liliʻuokalani was imprisoned in 1895 by the Republic of Hawaiʻi, the crazy-style quilt is one of the most unusual forms of historic documentary of Hawaiian history. Hand-stitched by the Queen and her companions, the nine panels of velvets, satins, and silks are stitched, embroidered, and appliqued with messages that spoke to the hopes and dreams of Liliʻokalani had for her people.
“Properly protecting the Queen’s quilt allows us to continue to tell the story of this significant time for the Hawaiian Kingdom,” said Leona Hamano, curator for The Friends of ‘Iolani Palace. “The original case began to show signs of stress along the seams with microcracks and bubbling and couldn’t be repaired without compromising its integrity. We determined it was best to fully replace the case. We also took the opportunity to conduct a high-resolution scan and detailed inspection of the quilt.”
The new case was locally fabricated by Min Plastics & Supply, which also created the original casing more than 30 years ago. The custom dome design allows visitors to view the 97-by-95-inch quilt from all angles while minimizing exposure to environmental hazards like dust and microbes.
The project required the use of a hydraulic lift and a team of nearly 10 to ensure the safe delivery and installation of the replacement case into the makai-Diamond Head, second-floor bedroom of the Palace.
B-roll and interviews are available for download.
About the Friends of ‘Iolani Palace:
‘Iolani Palace is a living restoration of a proud Hawaiian national identity and is recognized as Hawai’i’s spiritual and physical multicultural epicenter. Built in 1882 by King Kalākaua. ‘Iolani Palace was the home of Hawaii’s last reigning monarchs and served as the official royal residence and the residence of the Kingdom’s political and social life until the overthrow of the monarchy in 1893. A National Historic Landmark, ‘Iolani Palace has been meticulously restored to its former grandeur to tell of a time when King Kalākaua and his sister and successor, Queen Lili‘uokalani, walked the grand halls. Since 1966, The Friends of ‘Iolani Palace has focused on preserving, sharing, and celebrating the culture and history of ‘Iolani Palace and its grounds for the benefit of native Hawaiians, the people of Hawai’i, and the world. For more information, please visit www.iolanipalace.org or call (808) 522-0822.
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