ʻIolani Palace, Royal palace museum in downtown Honolulu, United States
ʻIolani Palace is a 19th-century royal residence in downtown Honolulu, Hawaii. The two-story building combines European architectural elements with Hawaiian motifs, wide verandas, and a square footprint around a central courtyard.
King Kalākaua commissioned the palace in 1879 as the residence of the Hawaiian monarchy and equipped it with electric lighting and telephones. Queen Liliʻuokalani was held there following the overthrow of the monarchy in 1893.
The name ʻIolani means "hawk of heaven," a title also borne by Kamehameha IV, who built a separate house beside the palace. The palace was the setting for royal receptions and, later, for the imprisonment of Queen Liliʻuokalani in an upstairs room after the 1895 Wilcox rebellion. Guided tours in English and Japanese run daily except Sunday.
Visitors can explore the grounds on foot or join guided tours of the interior offered on several weekdays. Comfortable shoes and clothing are recommended, as protective shoe covers must be worn inside to protect the wooden floors.
The palace was one of the first buildings in Hawaii with electric lights, indoor toilets, and telephones, installed before the White House. The royal crown jewels, including crowns and scepters made with gold and Hawaiian feathers, are displayed today in museum cases.
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