So what is the Iolani Palace you ask? It stands as the official residence of Hawaii’s monarchy that has been beautifully restored. The National Historic Landmark sits in downtown
Honolulu and is a stark contrast to the surrounding high rises of bustling city life. I really enjoyed visiting the house, even if we couldn't go inside to tour it. I was struck by how many residents of Honolulu were lounging on the grass of the grounds, enjoying the historic home, and how it has a very cherished place to this day in city life. Built by King Kalakaua in 1882, it was also home to his illustrious successor, Queen Liliuokalani and stands as the only royal residence in the United States. Let's take a peek inside, starting with the Grand Hall,
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The Throne Room,
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The Blue Room,
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The Music Room,
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The Dining Room,
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King's Library,
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Bedroom,
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If you're interested in the restoration process of this house, their
curatorial department kept a blog in 2010 with some informative posts.
Isn't it interesting how western it is -this could be anywhere! I'm not sure what Hawaiian indigenous architecture is though. Hope your family has a Happy New Year!
Hello Ann, It's somewhat bizarre to see such a Victorian extravaganza situated in Hawaii. I have also seen picture of Hawaiian princesses of that period, in lavish Victorian dresses with bustles, etc. What a pervasive influence the culture of that time had!
Happy New Year again,
Jim
Happy New Year Jim! I agree, it was somewhat contrary to what I would normally think of as "Hawaiian" even walking the grounds. I know which photo you're thinking of and I too was struck by how everyone was keeping up with the times! At the Bishop Museum they have a room dedicated to the Hawaiian Royals, and the men too, in their Western attire were very fashionable for the period. I was very interested in how the Bishops were keen on preserving Polynesian Culture but at the same time very much Westernized in their daily life.
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