Iolani Palace in Honolulu
In addition to a number of preserved residences of early missionaries, historic churches, the classic governor’s residence on Washington Place, and a gilded statue of King Kamehameha, the Iolani Palace is a historic building in Old Town Honolulu, or downtown.
The lavish Iolani Palace, the only royal palace in America
Front view of the palace with a gilded statue of King Kamehameha
The palace is surrounded by a large garden with a gazebo, the palace certainly has something grandiose, although it cannot be compared in size with, for example, a palace on Dam Square. This royal house in Hawaii is several times smaller. However, the building, which was completed in 1882, has four floors, including a basement and an attic. You can visit the palace for a fee, as part of a guided tour, or independently, with the help of an audio tour.
We choose the audio tour and go step by step through all the rooms. What immediately strikes me is the similarity of the interior to European royal palaces. You may lack the grandeur of Schloss Schönbrun or Windsor Castle, but you see similarities in, for example, the choice of red velvet as furnishings for the throne room, the variety of chandeliers and stained glass, the huge beds, and the heavy drapes and drapes.
Royals in peacock feathers
Although the palace is small, you imagine yourself in a royal setting. At the time, the Hawaiian kings and queens were delighted in their association with European royalty and, despite the enormous distance, were welcome guests in the larger European palaces, especially at that time. For example, a showroom is dedicated to the clothes worn by Queen Kapiulani and Queen Liliuokalani on their visits to European countries. Particularly striking is a replica of the classic bodice dress with a peacock-feather skirt worn by Queen Kapiulani at the London Jubilee of 1887. You can imagine that the Hawaiian royals, literally decked out with real bird feathers in exotic colors, were Two scenes altogether. in the European Court.
Hawaii flag
With a constant focus on the European court and how foreign affairs are conducted, it’s not entirely surprising that the first Hawaiian flag design in 1816 featured the British “Union Jack” one-on-one. The story goes that King Kamehameha was on close friendship with the British King George III and wanted to raise his flag out of respect. After the first flag design in 1816, the current official flag design was introduced in 1845, making it one of the oldest American state flags. Also, the Hawaiian flag is the only American flag to feature the United Kingdom flag design. The first time I saw the Hawaiian flag, I also had to look twice, because in a flash it looks like you’re looking at a British flag, but because of the eight horizontal bands that are applied to it, it also looks a bit like the “stars and stripes” of the American flag. The special flag also fascinates and incorporates the archipelago’s rich political history.Once an independent kingdom in Polynesia, today it’s an American state.Oh, and why eight horizontal bands you might ask?It’s said to represent the eight main islands of the Hawaiian state: Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Maui, Oahu Hawaii, Niihau and Kahulaui.
Queen in exile
Another special story is that of the exile of Queen Liliuokalani, the last Hawaiian queen. After the royal family was overthrown in 1893, a brief revival occurred in 1895, as the royalists attempted to restore Liliuokalani to the throne. However, this attempt was promptly punished which led to the queen being arrested and imprisoned in a bedroom in the Iolani Palace. She was held here for eight months, while guards stood outside her door, opening the door only to pass some food and drink. In her exile, the Queen wrote several songs from it aloha s He is the most famous, and is still frequently heard on the island. She also spent her time in all kinds of needlework. In the room where she was locked, there is now a huge quilt on display under glass that she had put together during this period of loneliness.
Napoleon paintings
Cellars are also more than worth it. Here the old château’s kitchen has been completely refurbished and many of the china cabinets have been filled with unique glassware and porcelain, from France and China, among others. There are even paintings from the personal service of Napoleon Bonaparte.
All in all, it was a wonderful visit to a unique place in the United States, where no other country has ever had a royal home. You can visit the palace between 9:30 am and 4:00 pm from Tuesday to Saturday; You need to book in advance and you can buy tickets online. You can find more information about Iolani Palace here here.
