Hulihee Palace, Royal palace in Kailua-Kona, United States.
Huliheʻe Palace is a two-story rectangular building of pale tan, plastered walls under a green gabled roof, its original lava rock now covered. A two-tiered veranda runs across the front: square posts and a balustrade below, turned posts and a decorative balustrade above, with shuttered windows between the posts and a central dark door. An outer staircase at the right end climbs to the upper veranda.
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.
The palace stands at 75–5718 Aliʻi Drive on Aliʻi Drive in Kailua-Kona, facing the bay; the entrance and the outer staircase at the right end of the veranda are reached from the street side. The 2006 Kiholo Bay earthquake left slight cracks in the walls and ceiling, so some interior surfaces are uneven underfoot.
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.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,596 contributors worldwide.