Do you have an interest in Hawaiian history and culture? Do you enjoy interacting and sharing stories with others? Consider volunteering with The Friends of Iolani Palace as a guardian or docent. The 12-week Volunteer and Docent Training Class will expand participants’ knowledge of the Palace and the Hawaiian Kingdom, develop their public speaking skills, and prepare them to share Iolani Palace with visitors of all ages from around the world. Classes will be held on Mondays from June 10 to August 26, 2019.

“Our docents are tasked with the special role of sharing the rich and multi-faceted history of Iolani Palace,” said Iolani Palace Historian and Docent Educator Zita Cup Choy. “Their passion and enthusiasm for the royal legacies they share with guests makes for a unique visitor experience.”

As Iolani Palace is a popular attraction for international and kamaaina visitors, bi-lingual docents are also in demand, particularly those speaking Hawaiian, Japanese, Korean, and Mandarin.

Classes will meet on Mondays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and include additional reading assignments and homework. The requested $40 fee will provide participants with a training manual, lectures, field trips, and other necessary materials.

Becoming a certified Iolani Palace docent requires completion of the Docent Training Class and 40 hours of Guardian Service (providing aid to docents). Volunteers interested in becoming a docent are encouraged to begin serving their Guardian hours as soon as possible.

The registration deadline for the Iolani Palace Volunteer and Docent Training Class is Thursday, June 6. For more information or to register, contact Docent Educator Zita Cup Choy at educator@iolanipalace.org or call (808) 522-0822 ext. 141.