Hulihee Palace, Royal palace in Kailua-Kona, United States.
Hulihee Palace is a stone structure in Kailua-Kona built from local lava rock and arranged across multiple levels with six main rooms. The building features two covered oceanfront porches that look out toward the Pacific.
A local governor built this palace in 1838 while King Kamehameha III reigned over Hawaii. The structure rose during a period when the islands were strengthening their political position.
The palace displays items that once filled royal households, including koa wood furniture, family portraits, and hand-stitched Hawaiian quilts. Visitors see firsthand how the Hawaiian royal family lived and what they valued in their daily surroundings.
Docent-led tours run Wednesday through Friday and require advance booking, while you can walk through on Saturdays without a guide. Plan for a shorter visit since the rooms are not extensive and can be seen relatively quickly.
The grounds host monthly gatherings where local hula groups perform, and families come together to celebrate Hawaiian traditions in action. These events let visitors experience living culture rather than simply viewing artifacts inside the building.
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