As the only royal palace located in the United States, Iolani Palace has a legacy that makes it one of the top attractions in Honolulu, Hawaii. However, the effort to retain and showcase the history that it contains is what has transformed it into a true monument that connects this cultural identity to the community of the present and future. 
The Official Palace of the Hawaiian Monarchy
The site where the current Iolani Palace resides had long served as the place where the kingdom’s royalty lived. Completed in 1882, the current Iolani Palace was constructed with a sense of grandeur and opulence for the era, featuring architecture and amenities not seen anywhere else in the world at that time.
The overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in the 1890s transformed the palace into the government headquarters for the Provisional Government. The Palace served as the government capitol building for the Republic, Territory, and eventually, the State of Hawaii. The Government would vacate the Palace in 1969, clearing a path for the building to be restored to its original grandeur.
While many of the Palace’s original furnishings were sold at public auction when it became a government headquarters, the restoration of Iolani Palace was undertaken with great care, with details about the construction, furnishings, and palace lifestyle in the nineteenth century impacting the layout and setup of the inside the Palace.
Opened to the public in 1978 after the structural restoration of the building was completed, visitors can experience the Grand Hall, Throne Room, the Queens Room and many more rooms and historic areas as part of various tour options. Numerous events like Royal Hawaiian Band Concerts take place at Iolani Palace throughout the year. Additionally, Iolani Palace has several spaces for hosting many types of gatherings.
Iolani Place is now a National Historic Landmark that has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, becoming a top attraction in Honolulu. Listed in countless guides and maps to the city and all of the Hawaiian Islands, it highlights what it means for a literal piece of history to become a cultural monument.
More Than a Legacy for Hawaii
Designed to be a living restoration of a proud Hawaiian national identity, Iolani Palace is recognized as the spiritual and physical cultural epicenter of Hawaii. While few buildings in the United States can match the legacy of Iolani Palace, the effort to restore and celebrate this identity is what has transformed it into a monument for the entire state that attracts the attention of residents and visitors across the eras.
