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Masks made on turtle shells. Shigatse-Tibet. 1787

By Jacob Cate

Ancient

About the Palace

Iolani Palace is a living restoration of a proud Hawaiian national identity, registered National Historic Landmark and the only official royal palace in the United States.

Located at the corner of King St. and Richard St. in downtown Honolulu (more details).

Main: 808-522-0822

E-Cigarette Policy

“Smoking, Use of Electronic Smoking Devices, or Use of Tobacco or Betel Nut Products is Prohibited by Law” in all state parks including Iolani Palace grounds.

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Did you know that one of our most popular tours is

Did you know that one of our most popular tours is the Self-Led Audio Tour? This tour includes the first and second floors of the Palace followed by a self-guided exploration of the basement gallery exhibits.

Visit, https://www.iolanipalace.org/visit/tours-admission/self-led-audio-tours/ to learn more about this tour.

📷: @wiill.tt

Royal Pets, Part Three In her article about royal

Royal Pets, Part Three

In her article about royal pets, Carol Silva mentions this painting of Prince Albert Edward, the son of Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma, with this dog. The painting was done after his death.

The Hawaiian Gazette reported when Queen Kapiolani returned from Queen Victoria’s Jubilee in London she was given the use of William K. Vanderbilt’s private rail car for the railroad journey across the North American continent. Mr. Lawrence Richards, a porter on the New York Central Railroad, was assigned to the private car and the royal party. and he accompanied them all the way to San Francisco. At some point on the journey, Kapiolani was given a St. Bernard puppy. When the royal party was about to sail for Hawaii “…she was somewhat tired of the lively puppy and gave him to Richards.”

Mr. Richards gave the growing dog to a District Telegraph messenger to be delivered to his father, but the dog disappeared. In a subsequent court case, the St. Bernard was said to have been of a noble lineage of high degree. Because the Hawaiian Gazette did not do a follow up story we do not know if Richards ever found out what happened to the dog who he had named Kapi in honor of the queen.

In this Hawaii State Archives photo of Liliuokalani taken shortly before her death, she is seated on the lanai of Washington Place with her dog Poni next to her. After her death, Poni was given as a hanai to the Queen’s friend Lahilahi Webb.

Visit this link to read more on the royal pets, https://www.facebook.com/maui247/posts/royal-pets-chiefess-kaahumanus-pet-hog-was-no-ordinary-creature-he-was-handsomel/2094385080641488/.

Mr. Richards gave the growing dog to a District Telegraph messenger to be delivered to his father, but the dog disappeared. In a subsequent court case, St. Bernard was said to have been of a noble lineage of a high degree. Because the Hawaiian Gazette did not do a follow-up story we do not know if Richards ever found out what happened to the dog who he had named Kapi in honor of the queen.

On this day in 1869, Edward Keliiahonui was born.

On this day in 1869, Edward Keliiahonui was born. He was the son of Kapiolani’s sister, Kekaulike, and her husband, David Kahalepouli Piikoi.

His father died in 1878 when he was nine. In February of 1883, his Uncle King Kalakaua issued letters patent, an official announcement, “granting the dignity of Prince to their Royal Highnesses David Kawananakoa, Edward Abnel Keliiahonui and Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole.”

After the Palace was completed, Prince Edward lived with his mother, Princess Kekaulike, and his brothers, Prince Kawananakoa, and Prince Kuhio Kalanianaole, on the 2nd floor. While in their teens, the brothers were sent to St. Matthews Hall, a boarding school in California. For his birthday in 1886, his aunt Princess Poomaikelani, hosted a grand luau at the Palace that was attended by the King and Queen, Princess Liliuokalani, Governor Dominis, and many others. The prince missed the party – he was still at school in California. A Honolulu newspaper commented, “A most elegant spread, a la Hawaiian, was laid out in the basement story of the Palace, to which all did ample justice.”

Photo of Keliiahonui in a cap Hawaii State Archives
Pencil sketch of the Prince is on the wall in the king’s library FOIP collection

Back by popular demand are Milo Legacy Trees from

Back by popular demand are Milo Legacy Trees from the Hawaii Legacy Reforestation Initiative.

Milo is a beautiful and spiritually important tree used in and around temples throughout Polynesia and is now available for purchase at the Palace Shop. Its wood was used to make bowls, calabashes, carvings, and musical instruments. Each purchase contributes to the reforestation and biodiversity of Hawaii, as one Milo Legacy Tree can absorb enough carbon to offset a one-week vacation in Hawaii for a family of four.

The tree seedlings can be purchased for $55 in-person at the Palace Shop or online (must be picked up in store). Supply is limited, so be sure to get one before they’re all gone!

May Day is Lei Day! Join us to learn about the art

May Day is Lei Day! Join us to learn about the art of ti leaf lei making for this month’s Hear Hawaii Workshop on Saturday, May 14 from 12:00-1:00 p.m. and 2:00-3:00 p.m.

The workshop will be held at Iolani Palace’s Hale Koa (Barracks) Video Theatre and is free and open to the public.

In this workshop, participants will learn the various uses of ti leaf and its significant importance to the people of Hawaii. In Hawaiian culture, the ti plant is considered sacred and can be used in a variety of ways, including medicinally, wrapping gifts and food, and in hula. The plant is also used in religious ceremonies and is a symbol of good luck, health, and aloha. Kumu Anuhea will teach participants how to craft their own lei lāʻi from start to finish, which they can take home at the end of the workshop.

Register here, https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hear-hawaii-workshop-on-may-14-tickets-322787795987.

Royal Pets Part Two There was a bird aviary on th

Royal Pets Part Two

There was a bird aviary on the Palace grounds in the quadrant where Hale Koa (Barracks) is now. While we aren’t certain of the types of birds that were in residence, it was reported that in 1892 Queen Liliuokalani. “…let several of her oo birds free on the Palace grounds.”

In 2010, Arleone Dibben-Young wrote an article that appeared in Elepaio (the Journal of the Hawaii Audubon Society). She reported that in addition to oo birds, Liliuokalani owned a bird with a tail nearly 7’ long that was “…imported from Japan and is said to be a mixture of the pheasant and game breed.” The article also mentions that “…Queen Liliuokalani acquired two Scarlet Macaws Ara macao,” which were sent to Parker Ranch on Hawaii Island after her death.

In addition to birds Liliuokalani owned a tortoise, which was kept in her yard. The tortoise would sometimes wander out onto Beretania Street causing a traffic jam.

The pictured excerpt from a Friends of Iolani Palace newsletter is portion of an oral history interview with Mrs. Clarence H. Cooke, in which she mentions the tortoise.

The photo from the State Archives is labeled “royal turtle.” In 1916, a visiting scientist spotted a tortoise in Prince Kuhio’s yard and was told it belonged to the Queen. That tortoise, in the interest of science, was given to Lord Rothchild and taken to England.

Friends of Iolani Palace Quarterly 1993 Summer
Image of the turtle Hawaii State Archives
Photo of the grounds with an arrow pointing to the aviary. Hawaii State Archives

On May 8, 1819, Kamehameha I died. He was the ali

On May 8, 1819, Kamehameha I died. He was the alii nui responsible for unifying the island chain into a single political entity.

In 1886, when Kalakaua celebrated his 50th birthday, a reporter described the Grand Hall writing: “The wall has been newly hung with the valuable oil painting, representing in life size the line of Hawaiian Sovereigns, with their consorts, from the time of Kamehameha I, downwards.”

During the time the Palace was a capitol, the portraits were often moved. The 1886 newspaper article helped us decide where to place them following their restoration.

The portrait of Kamehameha I, painted in 1850 by James Gay Sawkins based on drawing by Louis Choris, was the first to be installed on August 6, 1980. Choris visited Hawaii in 1816 on a Russian exploring ship. The portrait is on loan from the Hawaii State Archives.

Image of Kamehameha I portrait FOIP

On May 8, 1882, King Kalakaua attended the opening

On May 8, 1882, King Kalakaua attended the opening of the Loan Exhibit to support the Building Fund of Honolulu Library & Reading Room.

The exhibit catalog contains 53 pages of objects on loan to the Honolulu Library Association. The exhibit included portraits of the Prussian Kings loaned by His Majesty the King, two Japanese vases from the Emperor of Japan loaned by Queen Kapiolani, and items owned by the Government Museum such as the papa konane with 64 stones, formerly owned by Lonoikamakahiki, King of Hawaii Island.

The Reading Room, which opened in 1879, allowed residents to indulge in their desire to read both fiction and non-fiction. With donations of books from across the kingdom, the Reading Room quickly outgrew its first home. The 1882 exhibit was a fundraiser to build a larger space on property at the Ewa Mauka corner of Hotel and Alakea Streets, which was given to the organization by the government.

The Reading room was the predecessor of our State Library System and the Friends of the Library who continue to accept donations today.

Images of Fredrich Wilhelm III and IV portraits FOIP

On this day in 2015, a reproduction carpet was ins

On this day in 2015, a reproduction carpet was installed in the King’s bedroom. Based on this black and white photograph, the reproduction was handwoven in Nepal of 100% Tibetan wool on a single loom using a cross-weave technique.

King’s bedroom with newly installed carpet. FOIP
Historic image showing the original carpet Hawaii State Archives

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Masks made on turtle shells. Shigatse-Tibet. 1787

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