Reviews of Iolani Palace. (Other) in Honolulu (Hawaii).

Iolani Palace

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391 Comments

Other

Historical landmark

364 S King St, Honolulu, HI 96813, United States

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Information of Iolani Palace, Other in Honolulu (Hawaii)

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Reviews of Iolani Palace

Pablo Listingart

This palace is a must if you are in Honolulu and looking to learn about the local history. The items are superbly restored and the audio tour gives you a good overview to understand what you are seeing. Even my kids enjoyed learning about the Hawaiian kings and queens. I only wished to have a bit more of natural light to appreciate the place. But it was a really nice visit

Brian K

We did the self-guided tour which was fine. Bring your wired ear buds if you don't want to have the listening unit against your head for an hour. Definitely worth the price - especially if you like history. Very humbling and disturbing how Hawaii became part of the US. This was definitely not covered in my high school and college US history courses (as it should have been IMO). Tour was $25 per adult and took about one hour. The team that did the restoration did an amazing job.

Amy De Leon

This was a great guided tour into the palace. We got to not only see artifacts from the time of Hawaii's monarchy, but we also had a great narration of its historical events. We absolutely loved seeing each and every room in the palace as the guide explained specific details. There was ample parking right outside, (take coins for the metered parking).

Ashleigh Kittl

This was a beautiful place to visit, full of history and culture which I loved learning about on the audio tour. Lots of rooms to visit and learn about the different family members that lived in the Palace. Highly recommend booking a tour in advance, and arriving early to familiarise yourself with where to go as it can be confusing as a tourist. Incredible to see how much of the furniture and rooms have been refurbished and restored in certain places to create a wonderful museum/monument to part of Hawaii's history.

Leah Jones

If you are visiting Hawaii most definitely plan a stop here and take a little time to learn about the Hawaiian monarchy and how the U.S. took it over. I think most people have no idea about Hawaiian history and this was a great way to learn. The guide was friendly and informative and the palace is absolutely gorgeous.

Melissa Wiley

Ideally every visitor to the beautiful Hawaiian islands should start here. Come to this sacred site and learn the history of where you are, the people, and their heartbreaking history. While you are on your holiday, please don't forget, Hawaii isn't a playground, but a sacred place, people, and culture that needs all our help to survive. Don't trash it or be trashy while here.

Ameena Sethi

This place is absolutely amazing! If you are ever in Hawaii please visit this. It’s stunning and has a rich but sad history. The staff is absolutely amazing. It’s very well organized. The audio tour gives a lot of information. We payed for an earlier time but Doreen helped us move the time and was very gracious! Thank you for such a pleasant visit!

Mr. Fixit

A unique stop in Honolulu. Beautiful grounds. The tour is a bit pricey at $25/head. It is self guided. You are given a phone-like device that you can use to hear info at each station along the route through the palace. I didn’t realize Hawaii had such a complex history with western and eastern influence going back hundreds of years.

Swati C

Unique experience with an opportunity to learn some of Hawaii's history. Parking was pay and park with parking meters with a sign indicating "Quarters Only". However, our card worked after a few tries. We chose the self guided audio tours and it was pretty informative. We did not get tickets in advance and were informed the next tour was 45 minutes later, we bought the tickets and waited in the courtyard under some large trees. There was also a video to watch before the tour which explained some of the historic events and the family line. We were all asked to wear shoe covers for the duration of the tour, and asked not to touch anything for preservation reasons of course. We went from room to room such as the Throne Room, the bedrooms and listened to the information corresponding with the room on our little individual audio machines. We could take as many pictures as we wanted to. The tour ended with a visit to the basement which had more artifacts and even some jewelry.

Kelli O'Berry

I feel as if everyone that visits the Hawaiian Islands should come here. This is such a beautiful place yet so sad when you learn about the events that transpired there. Every Friday from 12-1pm the Royal Hawaiian Band plays on the palace grounds so that is wonderful-emersive experience. Definitely do not miss!

Alexander Chen

The only royal palace in the US. The tour guide is very comprehensive. We can know the history of the loyal family of Hawaii with some very interesting stories. The palace is well decorated with designs of UK style with modern electricity supplies. The tour takes about 90 min.

Young Eun Kim

Enjoyed the self audio tour of the palace. Everything was well-reserved and the audio did a great story telling of Hawaiian royal history. Good one hour needed. Reservation required, plenty of parking.

Benjamin Lau

This is a small museum dedicated to the royalties of Hawaii, with artifacts gathered and placed to recreate the atmosphere of a working monarchy of then. You can take a self guided tour with a listening device that tells the history of the royalties but I understand there are conducted small group tours which needs to be booked in advance. You'll walk through most of the rooms within the Palace and imagine how things might have been when full working staff was serving the monarchy. The tour of the Palace can be finished within an hour or less, but you can walk around the compounds which is quite big and peaceful. Depending on the reason of your visit, and the company you're with, you may consider skipping this place if you're pressed for time or not keen on learning about the summarised history of the monarchy. It is also probably not interesting for children as there are no specific children activities for them. Otherwise it is still a nice place to visit to understand how the royalties conducted their lives then.

Pras M

Educational museum to learn about the royal family in Hawaii. Worth the tour, although perhaps visit the Bishop museum before coming here to give you a better understanding. the palace is well preserved and the audio tour is very good.

Adan Martinez

Great place for Tourists to experience the Royal history of Hawaii. Walk through tour uses individual audio sets that let each person explore at their own pace.

Marcus Phillips

Beautiful way to step back in time and feel the struggle of the Hawaiian people to remain independent. A rich history with a lovely language and you can learn so much about it on the audio tour of the Iolani Palace. I recommend every visitor and Kama'aina make their way to the palace for a tour.

Anwesha Pan

The palace was worth a visit to know about the history of the royal family of Hawaii. Everything was well preserved. We were given audio devices to listen and visit different rooms of the palace. It was a good experience there.

emishappy89

Hawaii has a fascinating history. Iolani Palace was able to layout the timeliness, personalities, and all things about Hawaiian monarchy. We did the Docent led tour. Our guide knew what he was talking about and showed his strong respect for his culture and easy to understand. I was grateful to have a better understanding. This tour made my trip top level. The history came to life as we entered the palace. Architecture, artifacts, and stories allowed me to see what Hawaii is really about. Mahalo!

Brenda Strech

Great tour with guided audio. I had visited before a number of years ago. More of the palace is restored and viewable now. The stories of the monarchs and the people of Hawaii who suffered from leprosy deeply moved me. If you like museums, you shouldn't miss this.

desa djordjevic milutinovic

The greatest source of knowledge and information about the Hawaiian royal dynasty. Almost unknown and extremely interesting data. Most of the information you will hear in a tour of this palace you probably would not find out anywhere else. I strongly recommend it to anyone who wants to know more about Hawaiian rulers whose royal family has existed for several hundred years. By the way, Iolani Palace is the only palace in the USA

Divya B

Best place to visit if you are interested to learn history. This palace gives a lot of information about Hawaiian history and the kings. It was informative to see a 15 minutes video before our tour started. It was $25 per person. It took us about 2 hours 30 minutes to complete the tour at our own pace with audio device. Basement has some display of the queen's jewelry and some letters written by the kings. Good to know information and details.

Alan Mayne

A visit to Iolani Palace is a great way to learn some Hawaiian history. The Palace it’s self has been expertly restored. The wood work is beautiful. Lots of interesting trivia - the Iolani Palace had electric lights 4 years before the White House. The audio tour was excellent. You can move at your own pace. Side note: It is sad but not surprising that economic business interest brought the end of Hawaiian royal rule.

jem brickner

Fascinating tour and history. Definitely worthwhile - probably even a better time when COVID regulations subside. We did the self-guided tour and used a Groupon. The entire place is jaw-dropping/stunning.

Vera Z

Love their history! Really felt immersed in events back in the past. Read comments about lack of natural light but totally understand why. To preserve artefacts and to create that special athmosphere. The ladies inside are very nice, helpful, and so knowledgable. And wear so adorable dresses as uniform. To come inside you need to buy tickets for to tours in separate building first (see 1st picture). Tours schedule by time. Each 15 minutes. Either self-audio tour or guided. Adult ticket us $25.95 Even my 2yo enjoyed the interior with me as a guide. LOL. Must to see and good to know.

GRAMS

Political history of Haiwaii in this tour while enjoying architecture and historical context. Reasonable price and interesting. Self-guided timed audio tour and well orchestrated traffic flow

Melissa Wheeler

We did a docent-led tour. She (Kathy) was very knowledgeable and patient with the many questions my son asked. They were also kind to us even though we were a bit late after getting lost going there. There is parking behind the palace, though it had coin parking meters.

Scott Waite

What a beautiful experience. We had the basement tour which was self guided for $5. We should have planned and got tickets. We still learned a lot with the written signs and photos. We didn’t know we had to remove our hats when entering, but of course pay your respects to Hawaiian royalty. I’ll be back to check out the other levels.

Marek Bak

A wonderfully preserved piece of history. The self guided audio tour provided a meaningful explanation of the exhibits on display and retelling of Hawaiian history was amazing. This is definitely a site anyone should visit on a trip to Hawaii.

Toshi Jamang

Wow! A MUST for anyone who is here not just as a tourist but a learner of culture and history. The history and natives of Hawaii deserve love and respect for what they’ve had to go through. Please visit! It’s worth it.

Ted Ziegenbusch

The building was WAY too warm during our tour. Many people in the group were sweating. But, otherwise an educational and enjoyable visit. The audio tour took a few moments to totally understand. Some people were very confused. They gave us directions before the start. But since the guides were wearing face masks, we couldn't really hear the instructions clearly.

Happy Not Mason :p

Amazing experience, we went through the palace with these little audio things that we had and listened to and it gave us so much information and personally as a slight history nerd I love it so much and it was so interesting and detailed and I'm so happy to bring back some of that knowledge to where I live

daniel gelbart

The palace that the King and Queen used to actually live in has been restored to its former glory with all of the beauty and majesty that resided within. What a beautiful place to visit on Oahu! It is a historical site and a wonder to behold.

Jesus Chico

Didn't get to go inside but walked the court yard and its wonderful. One day I will maybe be able to go inside. The location and beautiful landscape was a sight to behold on its own.

Emily Nugara

Great way to understand the rich history of the Hawaiin monarch. We didn't book tickets before hand so unfortunately we weren't able to do an audio tour of the palace then and there. Instead we were able to just pay $5 p.p to see the basement , which gave you some information on the history of the palace , the restoration and you also saw some artifacts and crown jewels on display. FYI you are unable to take backpacks in the palace so you just need to leave them in the lockers provided.

Corey S

So much history! You should absolutely schedule a tour of this building. Our tour guide was a joy (can’t remember her name but she really knew the history); just wanted to hug her little short self! I’m a mason, so I was connected when I saw the Masonic regalia. Hawaii has such rich history and culture. Add this to your must-see list.

C-ADVENTURES

This was a very nice experience to walk around the palace and see all the rooms and to learn about the Hawaiian history and the royal family, this is a must do if you visit the island.

Maria Hays

Amazingly, beautiful, so much history and the self guided virtual tour was perfect! Definitely will recommend to any history lovers visiting the island!

Kim

It was a nice experience getting to know more about Hawaiian royal family and see the place they lived in. The palace was very nice, there were a lot of stuff from the kings and queens that were displayed. The staff was nice and friendly, they would give you some requirements like no drinks or food in side, we all had to wear shoe covered they provided to protect the floor, and we each got the device that would play some audio for us to listen to in each room, so we could go in our own pace and could repeat anything we want. To visit all the rooms and the basement it took us about 2 hours.

Nashly Gonzalez

Wow, this was an incredible experience. We did the audio tour and it took about an hour to get through everything. I definitely recommend it to anyone interested in history.

Sam Ward

Really cool if your into history, awesome atmosphere. If you want to learn some of the history about the hawaiian kingdom before the usa annexed the island a great place to learn.

Jopsyduck

Had a fun time on the audio tour learning about the Hawaiian royal families. At noon (don't remember now if it's every day or just Friday), the royal Hawaiian band puts on a concert.

Michael Hill

Lots of history. Beautifully restored. Learning how the Hawaiians were treated by the colonial government made me mad. My sorrows and sympathy go out to the Hawaiians.

Cesar Herrera

There is parking on the back of the palace, very limited can only park on the green painted spots. The other parking is for employees only. Very spacious and lots of open areas around the palace. The side leading to the parking have a homeless camp. Other than than that is a nice location.

Rachel Davies

These are some photos of the palace and the building across the street. Although the Palace was closed I was able to check out the palace tour online. Still very cool even though it wasn't in person. The outside was still gorgoues to walk around and there was tons of fact post plotted around the grounds. On the same grounds as the palace is a little chaple you can tour in. However, there is a dress code. No flip flops, beach wear or anything provocative. The trees are breathe taking and you'll also see differnt types of birds hanging around. If you're into culture and history it's a must do. The first church in Honolulu can also be found around this area. The bricks were made of coral that the locals drived down to and chiseled themselves. Each weighing over a thousand ponds. There was easy parking on the street and bikes nearby to rent if that's something you'd be interested in.

C Levin

Wonderful experience seeing the USA's only royal palace! Friendly and knowledgeable staff, good audio tour info, thought provoking history.

CookieMonster31415

A great tour of a key historical place in Hawai'i's history. You will need to book ahead and check large bags/backpacks on arrival, but once you're in you're provided with a recorded message handset that allows you to tour at your own pace.

Derhem Abdel

For $5/person, you can go to the lower level and see some cool stuff down there in case you can’t access the palace when it’s busy and you didn’t have a reservation.

Winnie Chan Yamakita

Great tour and very informative on last 2 dynasties of the Hawaiian royal family! Highly recommend.

Al’s Wanderlust Adventures

The Iolani Palace is a must visit while in Hawaii, you learn about the Hawaiian Monarchy. I highly recommend before you arrive on Oahu, go on-line to iolanipalace.org to book a tour.

Vihan A. w

We are so fortunate to have such history and culture preserved and shared for future generations to admire and learn from. What a wonderful place and visit!

Mike Norris (Betapixels)

A super interesting place to visit while visiting Oahu. Highly recommended. A lot of amazing history and culture here.

Joann Sims

A must place to visit , the walking audio tour is very informative of Hawaiian culture.

Jason Garrigus

Definitely need to visit Iolani Palace when you visit Honolulu. A great place to learn about the Hawaiian monarchy.

Tracy Hendenshott

Love to see the pride and craftsmanship that went into the restoration! Beautiful woodwork throughout, if that floats your boat, like me.

Vita

This palace is really gorgeous. Tickets are 25$ per person, you need vaccination card, the whole journey at museum took me maybe 1 hour.

Thressa Johnson

First, make reservations. If you don’t, you cannot do a tour. We chose the self-guided audio tour and it was enough information to understand the significance of Iolani, the history of the Hawaiian Monarchy, and the illegal occupation. When checking in, you must go to the barracks first. If you are facing the front, the barracks is to the left and just behind the palace. If you are facing the back of the palace by the tour signs, it’s to your right. This is a can’t miss your on your vacation here to understand the history of the Hawaiian Kingdom and depart from the more touristy activities.

Ibrahim Khalil

Nice Place. By the time David Kalākaua assumed the throne, the original ʻIolani Palace was in poor condition, suffering from ground termite damage. He ordered the old palace to be razed. Kalākaua was the first monarch to travel around the world and like Kamehameha V, he dreamed of a royal palace befitting the monarch of a modern state. While visiting Europe, Kalākaua took note of the customs and traditions practiced by his contemporaries where he decided that incorporating their elements would help legitimize his kingdom through their eyes; this included the building of a new palace inspired by these European grand palaces. Thus, he commissioned the construction of a new ʻIolani Palace, directly across the street from Aliʻiōlani Hale, to become the official palace of the Hawaiian monarchy.

Mike S.

Very cool for Oahu, but to anyone who saw European palaces, it is just a nice house. Of course, it has an enormous value as a major piece of HI history. Definitely worth a visit.

jb Millers

History of Queen Liliokalani. The history of the palace and the interesting facts - had electricity before the White House. Also running water and bathrooms, and telephones.

Caleb Everson

Wished we had more time here! Love to visit this beautiful palace! I love the audio tour it’s very immersive and let’s you go at your own pace if you want to spend a little more time looking at something in a room. Staff were really professional and dedicated to following all Covid regulations

Sade Richardson

Take a marvelous trip into Hawaii's rich history. If you can, talk to the staff and get to know the information more intimately. They are extremely knowledgeable and willing to share way more about Hawaiian history!

Arcy Hernandez

Came here on January 17 and got to witness Onion’s Peach March. I got the feels. This is a beautiful place with a beautiful culture.

吴锐恒（Ruiheng Edbalt Wu）

Really good palace, do not have time for the audio tour but see the photo from my friend. The basic gallery is really good.

Nathan Pierce

One of the most educational things you could do in Hawai’i. I wanted to hear more about the overthroat of the monarchy; I thought that was the best place to get the truth about it, but they don’t talk about it, even when I asked. The palace itself is absolutely beautiful and a fascinating view into a residence of the past, even if an opulent one. I would’ve liked to stay longer—there’s so much to learn, but there’s also only so much one can learn in one day. I think I’ll go back. If you choose to give a thumbs-up 👍🏽 or not, I hope you found my review helpful!

S H

Great experience. It was nice to visit Hawaii and not just be on resorts but actually see some culture. The palace is beautiful and provides tons of information on its history. I came while on a day trip to O'ahu. I did not make a reservation but was able to get a ticket for an audio tour right away. However, the was a sign up saying tickets to the palace were sold out. So I would reccomend asking the ticket office anyway and seeing if they have a cancelation. I imagine this is easier if you're in a small party. I purchased a single ticket. The walking tour lasted about an hour. Its very detailed and many of my questions were answered at the end. The palace is beautiful. I highly recommend this tour.

Town Traveller

Reservation needs to be done in advance No filming, just photography. Strict protocols that even some of the staff seem mean and serious. The interior is beautiful though

Lon Tilden

Beautiful history of Hawaii. It was really neat to see th details and the refinement of the royal palace and the rooms of the king and queen

Pela Bharat

Staff are very good this is all radio tour but they going to guide you in every steps if needed. So If you are interested in history, historical heritage, ancient architectural development visit this palace you will be happy to see the Royal Life.

Herb Silver

I was invited to a wedding that was held on the grounds of the palace that included an abundance of traditional Hawaiian culture of music and dance but also the incredibly welcoming nature of the families. A truly beautiful experience that changed my life. Included in the wedding was a brief tour of the palace. The history presented was fabulous. When I return to Hawaii, I intend to take the full tour and would highly recommend it to all visitors.

Rickee Te Wini

Great audio tour. Definitely worth a visit, especially if you're interested in learning more about Hawaiian history.

Cassandra Koszarek

Loved our audio tour experience at Iolani Palace our first day in Oahu. It's a great way to set the stage for our trip with insightful context about the culture and history of Hawaii. We'll keep our experience in mind through the rest of our trip .

Lisa Marie

Arrive early because parking is extremely limited and this is downtown so it's tons of one way streets. Did a docent led tour and learned so much about the Palace and the previous monarchs.

Rob Talbert

Loved all the koa wood ( staircase) and old locks and door hardware. Dining room was my favorite. Really gave a feeling of what it was like there.

Jean Richer

Very cool historical place. Quick lesson on hawaii's history and royalty

Cindy Skinner

Great tour our guide was very knowledgeable and had a lot of history to share

Jamie Finley

We did the self-guided tour which was one of the most affordable experiences we attended. The staff were very pleasant. The tour provided a vast amount of history on the palace.

Michael Wright

It’s a great place to go to be well informed of the atrocities that have been done to the Polynesians. It was an awakening experience for me.

Nesh D

The architecture says it all. Historic with so much culture. What a neat place to visit.

Albert Vo

Great place to emerge in the culture and learn about Hawaii history.

Kevin Smith

We did the docent-lead tour and it was really interesting. Staff are very friendly and knowledgeable. Our guide educated us on the royal family, palace life and the history of Hawaii under their leadership. If you are visiting Hawaii, visiting the palace is a must, as being aware of the history and land of the Hawaiian people. The palace grounds themselves are gorgeous and the work out in to restore the building and royal furniture and objects is astounding!

Patrick Smolenski

A most amazing place! The Hawaiian story is one worth hearing. Not enough time to really enjoy the whole Palace.

Richard E

Thoroughly enjoyed touring this beautiful palace. Its such a privilege to roam the corridors of this truly astonishing piece of history. As an architecture enthusiast, I appreciate the attention to detail used when constructing this work of art and all the effort put in to keep it as original as possible. You have to come check it out!

engels 1920

This is such a beautiful place. You get to hear about history of Hawaii Royal Familiy, a lil sad though. Palace is well preserved and the audio tour is very good.

Curt Widdison

This was a great stop on our trip. Wonderful history and story shared. They did go into a little too much detail in some room for the audio tour, lost us a bit. But we would just skip on to the next room. I’d recommend it.

Eric Jacobson

Make sure to make a reservation prior to the day you want to go. When you leave go over to the mission house and do the guided tour. There is so much connection and context there!

M P

Iolani Palace was official residence of Hawaii’s monarchy, is a marvel of opulence, innovation and political intrigue. National Historic Landmark in downtown Honolulu. Hawaii’s royal heritage is an immersive experience of Hawaii history and culture. All the employees at the Palace were very attentive. I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Hawaii.

Guillaume cds

Beautiful palace , very well preserved / restored . Great gift shop with relevant designs and I thank Luis Ayala for his outstanding customer service

Kym McCarty-Morlan

This place is full of history and timeless artifacts, information about the personal lives of the royal family and their relatives. You have your choice of several tours, you should pick a tour well in advance. With each visit to each room, and every floor, which by the way the building is Ada accessible as it includes ramps and an elevator for those in walkers wheelchairs etc, with every floor you feel the spirit and palpable emotions of days gone by. Of a lost era in time. It goes through the history of the annexation of Hawaii. It covers the course of time when Sanford Dole, and the Dole plantation used all of their political power in Washington, to essentially buy and take over Hawaii for their own monetary gain. You will see personal information about the children of the king the niece of the queen, her beautiful, intelligent and compassionate niece the Princess. You'll learn about the surfing history and the sons of the king brought surfing to Santa Cruz California. And right underneath the Santa Cruz Pier you will see a small surf shop museum, and in the museum are portraits of the Hawaiian Kings sons and nephews. They actually introduced surfing to California. I think for that alone, we here in the state should at least honor them for that. But sadly we do not honor this family for some reason. For some reason they have been written out of our history books, and not talked of what actually happened when the United States took over, and not acquired Hawaii. The tour of this regal palace, the only Palace in the United States, is a once in a lifetime event. An event that takes time and patience and listening skills. You certainly do not want to forget a camera. You may take lots of photos but no videos and no flashes during pictures. You will be required to wear shoe coverings over your shoes or take off your shoes and wear them over your socks. Expect to be led by a tour guide. They will not allow you to wonder about the palace unattended they have officials and tour guides on all floors and all areas. When you come to Hawaii you should not miss this tour. Is one that will open your eyes to the beautiful history of Hawaii and her accompanying Islands.

Ben

A must place to visit good for family trip. Very informative Highly recommended

Laura Small

We did the docent guided tour with a sweet woman named Claudette. She provided a wealth of information and was very kind. Beautiful historic structure with a rich history. Strongly recommend visitors to Hawaii get off the beaten path and enjoy this cultural experience.

Axel Banuelos

Great Place to visit and see one of Oahu’s historical sites.

skpe

Very beautiful and interesting place full of history. Did the audio tour (though would’ve preferred the actual tour guide but unavailable at time of purchase) and will say it is a must to get the full background of what you are seeing. Well worth it!!

Jia Casillas

It is a beautiful place to visit and know about the ruch history of the Hawaii people and it monarchy

Murphy Kelly

Did the audio tour so we could spend a little more time in each room, and there were plenty of staff to help guide you to the correct rooms and on how to use the equipment. Beautiful but more than that, full of history and helps capture a pivotal time in Hawaiian history. Must see.

Adil

What a gem of a place! In covid, you have to make reservations in advance, but the history behind the place is very interesting. The staff were nice and friendly. We did the audio tour which was fun. I can see how some people could get bored here but if your hear on vacation and what to do something other than the touristy things, then I would recommend here. It's just a little short of a visit to justify the price hence the 4 stars.

Jacob Dooley

Well worth the ticket price very educational not super crowded the self guided tour in the basement doesn't cost only parking by you need the whole experience

Norma Stein

Very interesting. Self guided tour was perfect. Worth the visit

SD Giles

Aunt Gladys was an incredible guide and really made the experience for us. Her storytelling abilities and knowledge is inspiring, and her patience and humor with the group was appreciated. Iolani Palace is an important part of Hawaiian history. We are thankful to everyone who has helped preserve its history and for making it accessible so that more people can educate themselves on its significance today. The warm welcome by all staff members was great too. We highly recommend the guided tour; be sure to book tickets in advance. And also keep in mind that it's more than a "museum", and is a sacred space deserving our care and respect. Mahalo!

Fanta Sacko

History buff? Gotta visit. My family had a great experience here.

אורנה הדר

Beautiful & interestibg palace. To reveal the historyof the Hawaiian kings

Jill Edelweiss

The site parking was tricky to find if it's your first time there, but was worth it when you found the slightly obscured entrance on King Street (lined with homeless :( ). Also the ticket is a good deal if you're Kamaina/local. Double otherwise. Reserve in advance! Beautiful inside. Well worth a visit.

Elia Mikhael

Cool buildings and history but there were some sketchy people around who made us feel unsafe.

Ryan Welch

Really well preserved palace and detailed audio tour. Very import to learn the history.

Mitch Grussing

This is an essential stop for vacationers on Oahu. Not only is the palace itself gorgeous, but the rooms are filled with artifacts and stories that tell the history of the Hawaiian monarchy. We did the self-guided audio tour, which was engaging and well organized. The entire experience was both fascinating and moving.

Mathew Goeldner

Very beautiful place to visit right in town. Lots of shade to hang out under. There are some birds to watch as well.

Mo Aziz

Really enjoyed the tour. Definitely worth it!

Kharmencita Brueckner

A very beautiful Palace that carries its own history. If you like to come in better with a tour guide to have a better explanation of the past history of the life of the king and how he lived here before the land became a part of the United States. I like the place it is fantastic!

Margaret Brunner

Advance tickets required. Need to arrive 15 min prior to ticket time. The audio tour was very informative. Enjoyed it.

Dr. Richard Zhao

Great place to learn the history of Hawaii.

Vineet Yalaka

Not many of the actual historic remains of the family are left. Most of the replicas. Definitely a cool history of the palace and the kings and queens.Go for the guided tour which is an hour and costs 30$ per adult.

Keala K

Amazing heritage and history. A must see for every history enthusiast. Not recommended for children as this place is full of artifacts roped off to protect the treasures of our monarchy.

Viacheslav Tourachev

Beautiful palace. Nice location downtown with fast access to other landmarks and food

Cu Phung

The self guided audio tour was excellent. The palace is a great place to learn about Hawaii history. My family loved it.

RJF

I really enjoyed the tour here and I’m a total history buff it feeds that need. And the concert outside was an awesome bonus. Royal Hawaiian Band you rock!

tina G

Amazing tour. I learned so much about the monarchy.

Tracey Wilson

I really enjoyed my self guided tour in this beautiful palace. It's wonderfully maintained and has some great exhibits including the royal attire of the king and queen.

jamaal robins

For anyone that appreciates history and would like to know more about how Hawaii came to be i would strongly encourage checking it out! This being the only Royal Palace in the US i was very intrigued to see what it was all about. We did a guided group tour and we pretty much went from room to room to look at all of the beautiful artifacts that have been recovered over the years. They do a good job of explaining what life was like then and what the royal family was like by providing ample context. Tour was about 2 hours and was probably one of coolest things i did during my visit

Robert Wagstaff

Don't miss out on a bit of Hawaiian history. Colleen was our docent and did a fascinating job telling us about Iolani Palace. It's best to make reservations. Also, if you go on a weekend I was told I could park onsite for free. Though it is posted that only Sunday is free, I was told security does not go around on Saturday writing parking violations. Just double check with one of the workers though.

Bob Atkin

This is a tour that many visitors to the islands will miss because it's not a beach, but this is a must see/do. The palace is truly magnificent, and a true state of the art building at the time it was built, with plumbing, flush toilets, and electric lights before the White House. It is the story/history of Hawaii that is told by the palace that is essential for visitors. How Hawaii was annexed by the United States is a story not known by many who visit these islands. The building, the restored and preserved contents, the stories, and displays are worth the time out of the sunshine. The self-guided tour allows you to take your time and go back to take another look once you have a little more context. There are benches you can sit on if you're getting a little weary walking around, or if you just want to reflect at different times during the tour. Don't skip the basement! There's a lot of information and context to be gained by spending some time in the basement. In fact the basement is a good place to start if you can get there a little early.

Ej Amoj

The palace was well kept considering its age, the tours are in the right place, but are really long to listen to as they give you a device which has separate parts per area of the palace. Definitely visit the basement.

Rei Shindo

A nice little way to learn about Hawaii's rich culture. Here is a very important tip if you plan to see this place: BOOK THE TICKETS IN ADVANCE ONLINE. They have 15 minute time windows, and if you just show up to the place, you are gonna be disappointed to find out that the next open timeslot is in an hour. It makes planning easy, and predictable.

Katherine Aumer

‘Iolani palace is a sacred cultural landmark. There are numerous treasures here and documented history that is informative and important for both Kama‘aina and tourist. The docents are very informative. If you can get and have the money for a guided tour, then it is worth it. The audio tours are very good too. Safety precautions are in place with social distancing, mask wearing, and constant sanitization. Limited tours of about 10 every 15 mins. We felt generally comfortable and safe with these protocols in place. Street parking is available, one can also try the palace grounds for metered parking. I see people uber/lyft in and out of there without issue. There is an elevator within the palace for those with certain disabilities. There are prices for both Kama‘aina and visitors that are reasonable. Check iolanipalace.org to make reservations. Oh! Don't miss the basement. There are jewels, swords, and emblems with so much information down there.

Kris Jarrett (Kris Jarrett Photo)

So much history here, both good and bad. The guided tour is well worth the small extra cost; our tour guide was amazing, happy to answer our questions, extremely knowledgeable, friendly, as were all of the staff and volunteers. Our guide was able to strike a good, and no doubt well thought out, balance between telling stories of the good times in the palace and the crimes committed against the Kingdom of Hawaii. The palace and grounds are beautiful, the exhibits informative, and the location easy to access via The Bus from anywhere. Bring a picnic lunch or visit Chinatown for great food.

Sommer Castor

The restoration and preservation of the remaining royal collection is phenomenal. I have lived on the island for 20 years and had never thought to tour the palace until family from the mainland visited. I chose the audio tour for us and was not disappointed. Each room had so much visual history and the audio gave feeling and life in each description and clarification of the history of Hawaii's Royal family. Each item displayed had so much beauty and the design from the wooden doors to the inlay found on the Mason tools. There was so much to see and so much I may have missed in my excitement that I am positive that my family and I will return sometime again soon.

Debra Thomas

Nice efforts to keep clean during Covid times. Bit disorganized in starting the audio tour, 3 of us showed up when there were floor markers for 9 ppl.

SASHANCO

Beautiful palace! Modern amenities for its time that absolutely surprised me. Susan was a great guide/host. The wood flooring is AMAZING. Tons of Hawaiian history here. A must see when you visit.

Brad Mears

The guides are super knowledgeable and do a great job giving you a tour around the palace. So glad I went, a wonderful way to learn more about Hawaii’s history! The grounds are also peaceful just to stroll around after.

Lori Brattset

Beautiful , great self guided tour

Dan McLaughlin

Each time I go, It seems like there's something new. The self-guided tour makes it easy to pause, or move ahead by punching the appropriate numbers in the handset. Great overview of a brief, shining moment and tragic downfall of the sovereign Hawaiian kingdom.

Kerri Hartfield

Second time I've been here. This time we booked a docent tour in advance. Our guide, Kathy, was great. This is one palace/ museum you should see

Stephanie Hoskins

Take a trip through time! This museum/historic landmark experience is so worth the entry fee. Take the audio guided tour for an even better experience. The home really is remarkable with ornate architecture, decor, fixtures, and royal clothing and artifacts. It’s a remarkable place. Then delve even deeper into the rich history of the Kamehameha Dynasty & Queen Liliuokalani royal family.

Obinna Nwokolo

The palace is a thoroughly beautiful, well preserved and educational piece of Hawaiian history. The architecture is stunning, as is the furniture and decor. The audio tour was extremely informative - I recommend consuming the content in the specified order.

John Humble

This guided tour of the Palace where the king of Hawaii lived and ruled prior to being part of the United States. This beautiful palace takes you back in time and teaches you alot about Hawaii's history at the same time.. A+++

mikec695

Amazing history here! Docent tour was very good!

Mary Friesen

We love learning about the history of Hawaii. I highly suggest getting away from Waikiki and checking out the palace and the Bishop Museum.

Jaque

While I appreciate the history offered at the Iolani Palace, there was one rude hostess. She is the woman in the Blue room. She asked my family to step aside and allowed another family to go in front of us. I won't play the "race "card but it is worth mentioning. There was a young lady who was full of knowledge and I enjoyed speaking with her about Hawaiian history. The palace is worth visiting and has been restored beautifully.

Lisa Killingsworth

Any visit to O'ahu should include a docent-led tour at Iolani Palace. We booked a tour in advance on their website, and checked in about half hour before the tour started. We explored the basement galleries while we waited. The tour allows you to view the rooms on the first and second floor, and we learned a lot that we had never heard before. There were children on our tour and I think kids would find it interesting too, and really it's great for people of all ages. The tour lasted about an hour and a half, and Coleen, our docent, was knowledgeable, friendly, and provided lesser known details about the history of the palace, overthrow of the Kingdom, the architecture, and artifacts. Come learn a bit of the history of Hawaii.

Nick Doty (Nick)

Great place to tour if you’re visiting Honolulu. The history is fascinating and the audio tour is absolutely great. You learn a lot about the history of the building and Hawaii as well. The personal tours only happen in the morning, so if you go in the afternoon catch an audio tour. A bonus - easily accessible by bus if you’re staying in the Waikiki area!

Barath T

Just roamed around to take pics, there is a pay at park inside the campus but we parked outside along the road like others and the machine didnt work even to pay online with the app., could be a quick 10 min visit if you are planning go inside to which there is a separate tour / price

Chip

We had a great docent who could answer all our questions. Lots of history here, and helped me to understand the early struggles to establish a kingdom.

Dru S

Great audio tour of a beautiful place. A must for museum lovers. Just awesome!!

Eddie Martinez

It's a nice place to visit while in Oahu especially for people that like history. It's not that big and you'll probably get thou it in about two to three hours. The only thing I didn't like was that if you kid needs a stroller they lend you one and your kid is supposed to stay in it throughout the palace. By the time we were getting to the end my son was was exhausted of being in it.

Daniel Swanson

We only went in the basement which set up to give a nice history of the Hawaiian royalty. To see the rest of the Iolani palace you have to book a tour.

Stf Scw

Very beautiful historic building that is worth to visit and the 20USD for the audio tour. You receive a feeling for the Hawaiian history and culture. The rooms look very tasteful and the storys about the Monarchs are interesting. Moreover, there is a tourist shop in the basement.

Alex Duncan

I did the self-guided tour, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was the perfect length - long enough to give me enough information, but not so long that I felt like my whole day was gone (I spent about 2 hours total at the palace). This is a great way to learn a little bit about the history of Hawaii. Note that you will be asked to wear shoe covers, so plan your shoe choice accordingly!

Kui Kantavee W.

Love this palace. It has beautiful architecture and is situated among green trees and yards which makes visitors calm and peaceful. Free entry for walking around the building. Many spots to take photos. Big trees with big roots are what I recommend.

cy

Historic building full of information about Hawaii history. Following self guided audio tour takes about 1.5 hours.

JETS

This palace is a must see here in Hawaii. All the rooms are kept and preserved pristinely! Use the audio tour to learn about the history of Hawaii’s monarchy. Prices for the tour are reasonable and don’t miss the basement area on the way out!

wawa shop

A grand palace for the king and everyone to see and learn about the ways before our time.

Edward Mar

I definitely spent the 2 hours here as Google estimated. Deep and rich story yet brief enough if you only warrant 45-60mins. Just beautiful and exquisite palace. It's a great start to learning about the Kingdom of Hawaii.

Naomi Anelapumehana

Tickets are purchased in the smaller white colored building to the left of the Palace. Tickets are reasonably priced - guided tours - audio tours Tours are also available in various languages There are ADA accommodations to see the palace, parking inside the gates area and elevators The waiting area for the audio tours are very accommodating and provided in a cool area. The audio tours come with headsets and an iPhone that guides you. Each area is assigned a number on the iPhone and it will take you throughout the palace, very easily. Children (my children and 3 and 4) must be in a stroller. Do not bring your own stroller as they have standard Chico strollers (New and well kept) that are allowed in the palace to assist in preservation. The palace itself is amazing and beautiful. A must see to embrace the history and culture of Hawai’i

Rebecca Phelps

We really enjoyed our tour at the Iolani Palace! Our tour guide Phyllis was FANTASTIC! She was so informative and passionate about the history that took place in Hawai'i. We were able to visit many beautiful rooms and take a step back in history. I'm thankful we got to leave better educated about the history of the Aloha state. I'm so happy Phyllis was able to answer all our questions and even tell us more about the area! I definitely recommend stopping by, it's the only official Royal residence in the states!

Sam Bartleman

If you’ve been to other palaces, this one will feel very bare and small. This is no Versailles - it’s basically just a Victorian-era house. Seeing everything (and I mean absolutely everything) only takes about an hour. A few rooms are completely empty... kind of odd to have a palace tour with nothing in it! Nevertheless, it was an enriching experience to learn about Hawaiian history. But it should definitely be a little cheaper.

Lala Skoorb

Wow. So much history and beautifully kept artifacts. The audio tour lasted about 1 hour and you pay for your tour at the gift store next door. There is parking and lots of shade.

Manoj Kumar

Very nice place. It was good to know how Hawaii’s royalty used to live and the effort it takes to restore historical artifacts. Budget for around 2 hours.

Dan Galpin

A beautifully restored tribute to Hawaiian culture and the royal family. The audio tour is very polished, and the device includes historic pictures to help contextualize the history of Hawaii and of the place. Make sure to examine the basement, which contains the royal jewels as well as exhibits. I didn't take the guided tour, but I suspect it's very well done, as we overheard the guide singing beautifully from the music room.

Maulik Patel

Good historical palace to visit and learn about Hawaii and it's ancestral Kings. Takes about 30 mins to go through the whole place. They have an audio tour that you take on your own at your own pace. Beautifully kept.

Yizu Lulu Yeh

Excellent place to learn Hawaiian monarch history. Audio tour was very informative. Great place to spend 1 or 2 hours. There's a limitation on how many visitors per hour so plan ahead. I use Starbucks behind Julia cafe to have snacks before my turn. Also not a straight forward location for Uber drivers. They don't always know how to pull in the Palace.

Sanaz Havaei

we didn't go inside the palace and just watched the video about the history of the kings and the palace, it was informative!

Henry Drobbin

Wonderful tour! I recommend the guided tour verse the audio tour. Great history here. The audio tour does not include the stair case walk. Over all the history is just amazing!

Dallan Moody

Best kept secret in Oahu! Definitely a highlight on your vacation. They had wonderful service and the tour is self guided. It’s well worth the price and once you’re done, across the street is a stunning statue of King Kamehameha the Great of Hawaii. When you first walk in your t seems like a place completely frozen in time, and even though it’s not all original it’s very very well maintained and kept. I definitely recommend you come here on your vacation no matter where you’re staying in Oahu. And if your lucky you might see a live reenactment of the last moments of the Hawaiian monarchy. I only have one complaint, I wish you had to pay more!

Amanda Sequeira

This was such a great experience. We learned so much while we were here! Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn about the history of Hawai'i!

Soraya B

My family and I were so humbled by what we learned here. We'll never look at Hawaii the same way again. A whole culture wiped out. Greedy America! It's so sad, we cried.

Ric Listella

Iolani Palace, a sacred Hawaiian Landmark, was once home and the official residence of Hawaii's Monarchy. The Iolani Palace is well into the process of being restored, nearly every room has been fully restored and furnished with historical original furnishings. The palace was originally built in 1882. As you tour the palace, you will not only enjoy and learn about the palace itself, but also of the Hawaiian Royal Monarchy and Family, the accomplishments of successive Hawaiian Kings, and innovative construction. All influenced by various political forces as the Monarchy endured year over year. The Iolani Palace is a National Historic Landmark and a jewel in downtown Honolulu. Recommened Must See, allow at least 2 hours, you will not be disappointed! Enjoy your visit! If you find my information or photos useful, please like them, thank you and enjoy your visit! Aloha!

Heather

Went on a wonderful guided tour of the palace. Our tour guide, Phyllis, was friendly and extremely knowledgeable. It's worth every penny to take the tour. The grounds are also beautiful and a good place to relax and have a sit. We did have to use street parking, but it was not an issue. Ticket and gift shop employees were also friendly and helpful.

Markpaul Chohan

Must see place. Amazing rich Hawaiian history. Spectacular exhibits, and artifacts. A top notch audio tour. Very intriguing to see how the royal family lived.

B Barnes

This was one of the highlights of my trip! So much history and amazingness in this palace. You learn so much. The tour gives you so much info, it is really like a mini documentary. I paid I think $15 for a self led audio tour which I recommend because you cab take it easy and wander around and take pictures and listen to all the stories on your tape. Arrive a little earlier to take a look at the gallery in the basement before your tour. Before you go in everyone that is doing the same self led tour at the same time comes together and gets little shoe covers and a short debriefing and then you are sent on your way. Even though you are on your own it still feels like you are in somewhat of a group because everyone mostly moves rooms together depending on the speed at which you listen and also there are people to direct you and help the flow. This palace is gorgeous, all the rooms look huge and grand. The information thats given is also very intriguing and sad but it gives you a very good peak inside hawaiian history, culture and environment in that time period. I had no idea about the princess, her background, her family before I came, but I do know!

Raghav Ayyamani

Good to visit and know a bit about history of royalty in hawaii. The palace itself(or rather the tourable area) is really small. It costs about $20 for a tour which happens every 10 minutes. Tours are very organized. For families travelling with small kids, strollers are available at no cost. Everyone gets an audio headset with a retrofitted ipod to know more about the palace's history.

Karl 1974

The ʻIolani Palace was the royal residence of the rulers of the Kingdom of Hawaii beginning with Kamehameha III under the Kamehameha Dynasty (1845) and ending with Queen Liliʻuokalani (1893) under the Kalākaua Dynasty, founded by her brother, King David Kalākaua. It is located in the capitol district of downtown Honolulu in the U.S. state of Hawaiʻi. It is now a National Historic Landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places. After the monarchy was overthrown in 1893, the building was used as the capitol building for the Provisional Government, Republic, Territory, and State of Hawaiʻi until 1969. The palace was restored and opened to the public as a museum in 1978. The ʻIolani Palace is the only royal palace on US soil.

Kim De Castris-Garcia

So interesting, illustrates the history of Hawaii both before and after America's arrival. Definitely heartbreaking, but also fascinating. The throne room is lined in Queen Liliuokalani's gowns and features the royal jewels, the basement has medals and weaponry on display. The most heartbreaking room, though, is the Quilt Room - the only thing in it is the quilt Queen Liliuokalani made to pass her time after her arrest. Very stark, and helps to paint a picture of some of what she endured.

Michael Lampi

Excellent audio your, beautifully restored palace. Even the free basement tour is good for a view of Hawaiian history.

Gavin Doyle

Palace of the Kings and Queens of the old Kingdom of Hawaii built in the 19th century. Taken care of by a local trust and is in excellent condition, though you will be asked to wear covers on your shoes before you enter. You can either take the guided tour or one with an audioguide. Recommend the latter as it is cheaper but goes into depth and allows you to set your own pace. You will have to get tickets from the adjacent barracks, which are worth checking out and the gift shop as well.

Michael Dibbets

Beautiful palace, impressive history. The audio tour of 20 dollars is definitely worth it. The staff is friendly and helpful and you get a real sense of the history and heartache I'd the palace.

Robyn Moore

A great way to spend a few hours learning about Hawaii's Royal family, politics and history. Tours are every 30 mins (you do have to pay), But I found the outdoor grounds are free to the public to enjoy. Theres Plenty of monuments, flowers and a path to walk leisurely.

Wesley Borner

This was very interesting an educational. It is so beautiful and the self guided tour was well organized.

Dana Davidson

We really enjoyed the Iolani palace tour. The audio tour is self paced and allows you to look at each room as much or little as you'd like. It was great to learn so much about the history of Hawaii.

regina melemai

Every person living or visiting Hawa’i owes it to our culture and history to visit and learn about the Hawaiian monarchy.

Claudine Picozzi

You will love this beautiful lolani palace family friendly every friday free orchestra and singing plenty of places to eat great food Aloha

David Kerr

Cool place. Had a fun time there.

Noah Burke

Great place to visit and learn more about Hawaii over the past 10 centuries! Self guided tour is very informative and good for kids and adults!

Stacey Lee

Absolutely beautiful place to visit and so rich in Hawaiian history. Make sure you allow half a day as there is a lot to see!

Diego Torres

A wonderful place to visit. Can't compare though to the natural beauty of Hawaii. Though my expectations were exceeded. The house is the former royal palace before Hawaii became a state. It's a lovely house. Some rooms are unfurnished. There is a self guided audio tour included. It contained a lot of interesting history. If you listen to each entry and check every room, give yourself about three hours to complete the tour. Parking is difficult to find. There are metered stalls around the palace. The staff warned us to be sure to actually pay, because the metered parking is strictly enforced. The state Capitol Building is right next door.

Laura Guinan

Fantastic renovation of the Palace! Accurate furnishings and architecture! We completed the Self-Led Audio tour in about an hour and then stayed a little longer to see the jewels and memorabilia in the basement. Learned so much about pre-statehood history, it is an impressive part of Hawai'i's legacy.

de la Cruz Junk

Beautiful museum that gives so much information about the history of the Hawaiian royal family. Loved it all!

wg speed

Well designed and informative audio-tour of all the 1st and 2nd floor rooms was enjoyed in English and in Japanese for our guests.

Liang-Kai Chu

Make sure you reserve the tour in advance

Danielle Hasan

A once in a lifetime experience at a once upon a time palace, this was an evening to remember. The only royal palace in the United States, it is beautifully restored and bursting with rich history.

Kate Hewitt

Just stunning. Helpful staff and a highlight of our trip to Hawaii. Worth a visit even just to look at from the outside. Downtown Honolulu has some beautiful buildings!

walter hood

It's a self guided tour, so it's nice that you can move at your own pace. The only downside is there are alot of empty rooms with no artifacts in them. At least 1/4th of the rooms are empty.

Chris Peterson

Go for a docent guided tour. It's a great narrative driven look into the history of Hawaii and the Hawaiian royals. You have to book in advance.

Gloria B

The Iolani Palace was such a worthwhile tour. A beautiful way to learn about the Iolani culture of the kings and queen of Hawaii.

Igor Lashkov

Many insights about kings and Hawaiian history, beautiful interiors. Not so much places to see. Self guided audio tour lasts 1 hour. Admission fee is 11$ for residents, moderate price

Kat

This place is a must see if you are first time hawaii visitor. It just gives you the history of hawaii and how it all began. I would say that some parts might be a bit boring but this place is huge but can be realistically finished within 2 1/2 hours (a little speed running included). Parking is available inside (which is recommended since steet meters only have 2 hrs max).

Ken Wong

February 2022: Great educational place to visit in Honolulu. I learned a lot about the Hawaiian history. I hope more people take the time to visit this palace to learn more about the past.

Kari Gonzalez

Hard to get reservations on day of but we're able to get a basement tour which was definitely worth the $5 entrance fee.

Jody A. Smith

Take the opportunity to learn about the Hawaiin culture and heritage when you visit Hawaii to include a stop at Iolani Palace. Reservations are required and multiple tour and guide options are available through their reservation site. We opted for the classic audio tour which was great. All instructions on what to expect, where to park, how to act, etc. are clearly communicated on the pre-arrival email/ confirmation. The one thing that wasn't clear was where we check in upon arrival. Once you arrive at the palace you will notice a small building to the right of the Palace if facing the entrance where the tours start (there's a sign that indicated where the tours starts at the bottom of the staircase). It's the building that shares the gift shop and toilets. In the breezeway of that building a table is set up for check in. Before entering the Palace you are expected to put booties on over your shoes, gentlemen should remove their hats and all should be respectful of the property and it's historical significance. The tour was very informative and took about an hour and a half to two (depends on how much you read). My favorite parts were touring the actual Palace and feeling the presence of the Royal family and their guests as I imagined the Palace in its prime. Seeing the tableware and the clothes as they family would have enjoyed was amazing. And the history behind the rooms and the pieces. Not to spoil it but the somber ending was probably the most impactful and very emotional. There are more exhibits in the basement that are included in the tour.

eclecticNhectic

The Iolani Palace was the best introduction to Hawaiian history we found and the audio tour told us so much about the unification, and sadly the subjugation, of the Hawaiian monarchies. I could feel the pride of the Hawaiian people in this building. Worth every penny in my opinion.

Roan S

Where to start!! Amazing experience. Our guide was very knowledgeable and passionate of the history of Hawaii. As a child I going here on school trips was one thing. As an adult, was an incredible trip through the ages. The ambiance, low lighting, smells and peacefulness of what was and still is our love of Hawaii. An experience I highly recommend to everyone local and visitors alike.

D Garner

This is an awesome place to visit. Very impressive palace. It’s bigger than some I’ve seen in Europe. The audio tour is great. Plan for over two hours if you want to see the whole place. Although it’s an old building it is handicap accessible.

Steven Wheeler

The self guided tour was excellent, and the palace was an incredible trove of interesting and important history of the Hawaiian Kingdom.

Deborah Au-Yeung

Fascinating Hawaiian history of the last royalty of the islands and the story of colonisation. Beautiful royal home where the last Queen was imprisoned. Did the self guided audio tour.

Ryan Devlin

Such an amazing story in the heart of the capital. 100% recommend visiting here to learn the history of the monarchy’s rule. This palaces restoration is a fantastic example of the love of history and preservation for the next generation. I have no words other than coming to the palace and listen to its story.

Kieanna-Ashlie Rodriguez

I was born and raised in Hawai’i (Oahu) but it always gives me chills whenever I visit the palace. Brings me happiness and sadness but I think the tours they do to educate those who want to learn about the truth and what happen to the Hawaiian people is great. My tour guide Kathy was very knowledgeable about the palace and she answered all of our questions. I highly recommend the docent led tours!

Craig Smith

The story of the royal family and the independence of Hawaii is an interesting one and it is hard no not feel a little sad that this proud institution was just absorbed in into the US.

cooper smith

Beautiful wood work and excellent job of keeping it as original as possible. Great audio tour. You may want to bring headphones for the audio but they have some available for use. Leave your bags in the car as they want to limit the risk of damage by accident within the palace. The docents were friendly and courteous. A great history lesson for anyone interested in the Hawaiian monarchy.

Kama Harris

Didn't get to see much during my visit other than the quick act exhibit. If you go. Plan ahead to book the tour or arrived with much time to spare.

Lana

Great tour full of history and passion for the palace. Our Docet was fabulous and very proud of the monarchy that ruled in Hawaii. Tour was about 45 mins with a self guided tour of some additional artifacts and history downstairs. The restoration of the site is spectacular. Definitely recommend if you're looking for something to do.

I M

Didn't do the tour, just walked the grounds and viewed from outside. Beautiful Palace and impressive when you learn more about it. The grounds are nice to walk as well.

A. Marv

We didn't plan on taking the tour but sure glad that we did. The audio tour offered very clear and succinct history, gave us appreciation of the Royal Family's history. I am very impressed with how the staff and volunteers have taken such good care of the tourists. Thank you.

Gordon Collier

Great historical museum/palace. Tons of artifacts, real diamonds and precious stones and historical clothes. The place is rich with history.

Diane Greene

Amazing!!! Loved every minute of it!! Loved it so much we went back to learn more history.

Montana Coleman

This was a cool cultural experience! We enjoyed this tour. The staff was a little bossy though!

Elizabeth Warren

I am so glad I got to tour the Iolani Palace. The history was so interesting and our tour guide was very knowledgeable. There is so much to take in that I will be visiting again. I suggest that you get there early to find parking because there's not much on site, but you can park in front of the Palace in their metered parking slots which take credit cards. We were also lucky because we got to see the Royal Hawaiian concert band performe there at noon.

Mel H

Did the audio tour with my siblings as we wanted to do something different on our visit to Hawai'i. We all loved learning about the interesting history of Hawai'ian royalty and seeing original and refurbished items along the way. The place is beautiful and the staff are friendly and helpful.

Windy Hudson

Love this place we went on are on so we got to spend more time than the tour bus probably allowed learn so much about the history of Hawaii

Perky Patti

Attended the 1st ever Evening Gala in Honor of Queen Kapiolani ' s birthday. Excellent pupus, unlimited beer, wine & other beverages. Wonderful entertainment. Knowledgeable docents. We were able to see areas normally not accessible on the daytime tour. Worth every penney. Hope they have it again next year.

Chanelle Davis

This is a must. The tour was intricate and informative. Our guide has an evident love for Hawaii and a gift of storytelling - we were transported into history through their narration, (Thank you Aunty Gladys!) The palace has been beautifully restored, this is a tour you do not want to miss.

Steve Sanchez

When in Hawaii don't just come to the beach, but enjoy the history of it's people

Toby Darbon

Do the guided tour - the staff are experts and talk you through things you would never usually notice. Lot of history in this place, amazing how keen the king was on European culture! Well recommended!

Gary Cleary

At the time of our visit you could only view the external grounds

Fly, Honey Bre

I wish I had seen the basement first and then the upstairs tour. Besides interesting depth of history there's a restroom downstairs. Parking is available and costs $2 an hour. They kicked us out to lock up promptly at 4:55 pm. I like that the tour is self-guided so that everyone in our group was able to hear the commentary and snap photos at their own pace. Photos are allowed, videos aren't. Freemason global elite ties and the history of Hawaii getting involved with that internationally are proudly displayed in ways I've never seen before. I took lots of photos! Beautiful architecture. You have to wear disposable shoe covers, I imagine some people might have trouble walking safely in them and may want to plan ahead with certain shoes underneath or an escort or walker for support. There is an elevator or stairs. The only thing you're allowed to touch in the whole palace is the wooden railway on the staircase!

Carol van der Velde

Fascinating insight into life in Hawaii before being integrated into the US. Beautiful furnishings and lovely dresses

meghana kiran

Spectacular !! If you are in Honolulu you MUST visit this place ! It has beautiful restoration work. They have self guided audio tour which provides a great insight on Hawaiian history. You cannot touch anything and they provide you with shoe covers,but there are benches inside to sit and listen to the audio.Since you got to return your audio sets after coming out of the palace it gives you a sense that the tour is over,but make sure you don't miss the basement. The prices of the tickets are worth for what they have to offer ! Do visit this place

Miguel

What can I say? This place is great. Great culture and history about the Hawaiian kingdom. Definitely worth the $20 entrance fee. Even if you're not a museum person, put it on your list of things to do.

Unubold Chinzorig

Details in the decor are amazing. If you objectively look at the palace, it's an amazing piece of history and architecture on its own. Bit of an surprise if you didn't know this existed before coming. I for one, didn't expect to see European style palace in Hawaii.

Conrad Paz

A snapshot history lesson of the last 2 centuries of Hawaiian monarchy. Interesting and heartbreaking. Parking spaces are few and are metered. Get change at the ticket counter.

Tom Linhard

A great guided tour and excellent restoration of the palace. Well worth the hour long experience.

Z

Great place to experience a bit of history. The place is very well kept, and I was happy to see how dedicated the staff is in making sure people are respectful of the place as it is considered sacred in the Hawaiian tradition. I just wished they made it a little more clear on how things work when you first get there. They have a small parking lot the driveway to get to it is found past the the front gate. When you get there you pay for parking at the machine, then head over to the smaller building that looks like a small castle to check in, then you go to the back of the building to start your tour, each group is fairly small and you have plenty of time to look around. No flash photography is allowed inside.

Still Bald

Essential stop when visiting Honolulu. We did the self guided tour and learned a ton about Hawaii's history. Do yourself a favor and leave 3-4 hours for the whole thing!

Q Zhou

it is a so beautiful palace in O’haul. This palace just have one building which has three floors including one floor of basement. Good place to see in a vocation.

Jason Noah

This is a great place to do a mini-walk of the must see sites in downtown Honolulu. From here, you can visit the Kamehameha the Great Statue, churches, and government buildings. Everything is pretty compact, and there's not a ton to see, so you won't need much time. The grounds outside the palace are open on weekends, so if you're not interested in seeing the inside, you can still get great pictures.

Benjamin Strukus

Self guided tours of the main palace of Hawaii's previous rulers. Kept in great shape, you'll get a sense of how Hawaiian royalty lived back in the 50's, and even more impressive was standing in the room where the queen was held under house arrest after the US took over. Chilling

Lisa White

Such a lovely and informative piece of Hawai'i's history. The docents were particularly helpful and the audio tour provided great detail. It was startling to be confronted with the details of how this island nation was colonized. Thankfully, they have done a great job preserving their cultural heritage and this was just one enjoyable stop on our visit in June 2022.

Justin Sutton

We did the self guided audio tour. It was great and very educational. I enjoyed learning the history of the palace. It's definitely worth a visit.

Yoon Soo Park

Great place to see the Hawaiian palace and witness the culture. The guided tours are only during the morning. We arrived in the afternoon and only had the option for the audio guide which was still very much worth the visit.

Jeanette Arsenault

Beautiful piece of architecture and history. The Royal Hawaiian Band gives a free concert on the grounds every Friday at noon.

fabiola simona

Refurbished. Nice tour! 1st Friday of the month the Royal Hawaiian Band has a free concert on the lawn.

Dominic Hord

Really interesting place with tons of history, but our guide was pretty controlling. We had very little time to take photos and appreciate the palace.

Adam Schechner

The audio tour is well worth the price. The palace is beautiful and I learned a lot about the political history of Hawaii. There is parking at the palace itself, but we couldn’t find the entrance despite driving around the grounds twice.

Christy Minteer

Less than $15 admission. Good 45 minute audio tour. They let you go at your own pace. Nice to see the beauty of the royal traditions. And the sadness of the overthrow and letting the palace rot. Restorations are fantastic.

V Guzman-Orozco

The site of some of the proudest and most heart-breaking moments in the brief history of the Kingdom of Hawaii. The restoration has resulted in an indispensable museum with its rich collection of furniture, jewelry and clothing from generations of royals. A state-of-the-art palace in its day (more so than Buckingham Palace or the White House), it is the perfect place to lay to rest the stereotype of Hawaiian culture as nothing more than grass skirts and surfing.

AB C

Audio tour is a must, very informative. Don't miss the displays in the basement. Better to order ticket ahead of time as they do limit number of people per time slot.

Rebecka Göransson

The history of this place is incredible! The grounds are nice. Didn't have time for a tour inside, unfortunatly.

A. Perez Voyages (A. Perez Voyages)

A visit to the Iolani Palace allows you a first hand perspective and journey into the nation of Hawai’i before it's illegal overthrow. Iolani is beautiful and a walk through it brings you back in time into the 1800's. The artifacts were incredible and the audio provided really allows you to truly step back in time. I have so much love and respect for what is essentially...Hawaiian. When i was in the palace, I had that respect as if I was visiting an ancient shrine or heiau. But I found some of the palace "security" , the personnel that watches over everyone and guides people around insanely rude. I'm sure they deal with a lot of unruly tourists from the mainland but how they spoke to everyone was aggressive and took away from the spirit and essence of the palace. I was super respectful, communicative, and responsive and still they spoke to me like I was some ignorant and obnoxious mainland tourist. If the palace is thought to be sitting on an ancient shrine, why hire staff that gives off bad mana. Just being honest and upfront. Overall, great experience but the male "security" guys gotta chill out

Deb G

The palace is beautifully maintained, the visit is historically organized, and we especially appreciated the strollers provided making this a kid friendly place.

RVF360

Incredible place and very historic. Only problem here is parking. Prices of the tour is $20 per person.

Cesar Diaz

A beautiful building with audio tour. You lear a lot of history from Hawaiian royalty. Historic place to visit and learn that they were ahead of his time, usually you spend less than 2hrs to see all the building

Michele Napier

Beautiful. Gracious and informative staff. Well worth the visit. Love the history. Albeit somewhat tragic.

Yvonne Lazarus

Beautiful place to visit, they give you a headset for a guided audio tour throughout the palace and little booties to cover your shoes.

Kamal King

Times for tour are 9-11:30, coin metered parking available outside and inside premises. Very large property, family friendly, restrooms available, well kept grounds.

Suhas Javagal

Very nicely maintained palace with good narration of history during the tour. 20 dollars for the entrance. I feel it's a bit pricey.. but the overall experience was very nice. If you don't want to enter the palace you can just enter the basement to visit the gift shop, jewelry section and kitchen. And roam the palace grounds.

Joanna Oliverio

Such a beautiful palace, we stumbled upon it while walking around down town and it just so happened to be king Kamehamehas birthday so their was a celebration that they do every year it was really great to see

Andrew O'Leary

Seen it so many times on Hawaii 5-0 a fab experience being there. Free toilets but you do have to go through security first.

LUCY CONDON

Wear shoe cover ups to,protect beautiful floors, artifacts regained from overthrow selling of Royalty wealth, Initial source of Hawaii History, photographs, hard work to return the palace to its original luxury

Anuhea Rodrigues

Our twins looked forward to coming here. Beautiful grounds, wish they were open for tours on Sunday. Amazing how HOME u feel there, especially being kanaka maoli. Gotta hold onto what's left for us here in the islands.

David Clifton

The only royal palace on U.S. soil, the Iolani Palace was completed in 1882, and has been restored to its original beauty. The koa wood staircase is fabulous, and the throne room is fascinating. The guided tour points out the features of the palace there were cutting edge technology in the late 19th century.

Yehuda Morag

A beautiful and important place to visit while in Hawaii. Very well maintained, great explanations, fantastic experience. The team on location is very friendly and helpful.

Marie W B

One of the first things we did upon landing in Honolulu is ask the locals what they recommend tourists do. Someone said that we needed to learn the history of Hawaii and gave us a great list of historic buildings and statues that would give us a better understanding of the history and culture here. Iolani Palace is the perfect place to start. It’s a little depressing to learn how Hawai’i became part of the United States (well, learn more than just a few lines in a history book covering a much broader history of the US), but overall the palace is beautiful, humbling, and a piece of history no one should miss. Plus the staff is great and the refreshments are cheap (enjoy while waiting for the next tour, not during)! There’s no food, drink, or gum allowed. You’ll also have to wear shoe coverings. I’m sure they’re washed frequently but maybe don’t wear flip flops or sandals just in case.

Kolton Martin

I didn't know what to expect when I came here. The palace was beautifully restored and I had an excellent hour long audio tour where I learned all about the final moments of the Kingdom of Hawaii. As a huge fan of history I found the story fascinating and sad. For anyone who enjoys history you must come here, to the only royal palace on American soil.

Stian Klingenberg

Nice palace. Open 09-16. Worth a visit when coming to Honolulu

A. Richardson

This museum is located near Waikiki. You actually get to go in each room and into a makeshift basement. There is a lot of European history vice more indigenous Hawaiian history but it’s still a good history lesson.

Debra Martsching

Spectacular! A real Palace! So beautiful. A must see. Very unique. Nothing else like it.

Alexandra Hood

$20 for the ticket to enter but is worth it! Automated tour and free roam of most of the rooms If you like experiencing another culture or like history definitely check it out

mike jones

A great place to visit and learn the History of the Hawaiian Kingdom. The picture is a view from the back of the palace towards the King's Barrack. All tickets for tours and the gift store are located in the barracks.

Stan Sewell

We visited just before flying home. I'm glad we did. We wanted the docent tour but had to settle for the audio tour. You can be done on an hour but we spent about 45 min after the tour in the basement and gift shop. It is the only palace in the USA. So, it is worth visiting. You will learn some interesting things that otherwise you probably would not ever know.

charles walker

We really enjoyed learning about the true Hawaiian people and their rulers. Its a somber vibe throughout the palace, the lighting is minimal and you cannot use flash photography...but we were still able to get some decent photos. Its a self guided tour with a phone device that plays a recorded tale of the palace room by room. Check in is a bit confusing because you purchase tickets in the garrison and you're given a specific entry time for the palace which is further inward on the property (not far at all). If you enjoy history, Hawaiian history, artifacts, or wish to learn more about Hawaii...this is a great spot to visit.

J F

Our visit to the Iolani Palace Museum was wonderful. We went with a visually impaired individual, who also had a great time. Upon entering you are greeted by workers who help you navigate the hearing devices that will be used inside to help you navigate the palace. All of the hearing devices worked perfectly and there are aides inside to help guide you and answer any questions. The wonderful staff who allowed our visually impaired friend to feel certain objects as they gave detailed verbal descriptions and information. The history and knowledge that we received was incredible. This isn’t our first time and it won’t be our last.

Joe F.

We enjoyed our tour. Beautiful place, loved the history.

Laura Asper

Very beautiful, be aware no touching ANYTHING! They even have you wear shoe covers. We each had our own audio tour device which was well done and had good sound quality. It was very educational and really brought insight into some of the culture of respect for the royal family and all the roads named after them. I think if they offered a short film in the basement it could help the experience come to life more. But very impressive restoration. Also it would be nice if it was a little clearer where to get the tickets at exactly. Friday is a busy day since the Kings band plays at noon. We were glad there were still walk up tickets available for us around 2pm.

Alan Dennis, Baron of Cowie

Good for history buffs but of you don't like history, then skip it. It has interesting exhibits and you can learn about the history of Hawaii

Naomi Teramoto

Definitely worth going. Allow yourself a good solid hour or more to be able to really absorb everything. The palace is beautifully restored and the information is fantastic!! Make sure you adhere to the rules of respectful viewing. The artifacts are priceless and full of cultural significance, therefore, very well cherished.

Mike Wilmington

Beautiful and well restored palace filled with history. Book the audio tour and take time to listen as you walk through the different rooms, soaking in the history and cultural perspective. Make sure you don't skip the basement section, and I actually recommend you do it before the main palace tour.

Jim Jenkins

Beautiful palace provides a view into Hawaiian royalty life.

Vania Chong

To visit how royalty used to live. There are guide visits if you want to and after that you can go to Queen Liliuokalani' statue.

Chris Hinson

Great history lesson in a self-guided tour. Friendly and helpful staff. Artifacts beautifully preserved and re-created.

Honolulu Door-to-Door Pick up and Delivery Service

This review isn't about the inside of II'olani Palace as much as it is about the outside. Locals with drug addictions believe that the Honolulu Police Department does not have jurisdiction over people hanging out on what they call "state land." This means no one expects the cops to roll up on them while they are getting high. I believe there's a time and a place and school children on field trips should be respected. However no one stops what they're doing even if kids are around. Hint: if you see umbrellas open among a bunch of homeless in perpetually sunny Honolulu there's activity behind those umbrellas kids shouldn't see. The bigger problem is not everyone hides behind an umbrella. No need to arrest people and incarcerate people but can't they be moved along away from historical sites? I don't know who is in charge of law enforcement by I'olani Palace. The security guards I talked to say they can't be asked to move if they're not caught doing anything. They are just as much members of the public as anyone. It's just not a pretty picture: makeshift tents, junk food wrappers, 2 or 3 I'll cared for dogs...Maybe having homeless encampments by a major historical site and tourist attraction does more to show the plight of the underclass in Hawaii better than any other exhibit.

Robert Couch

Wonderful to learn about Hawaiian history. Rather unsettling, too. Rather like our treatment of other Native Americans.

V B

A MUST-VISIT place for all those History lovers. The video presentation that explains the history of the Hawaii kings & queen is worth watching to learn what is in store. The floor at the down is also interesting place to take a look at. The menu at the King's kitchen is eye-catching and so don't miss out. Then the self-led audio tour of the Iolani Palace is loaded with history, events and moments. A memorable Palace visit

Tristan Nee

Cool palace, but I don't have to cleanse my palette because I did not eat anything there.

Hope Becton

Absolutely amazing tour! A wonderful place to learn about the history of Hawaii for the young and old!

Joseph Pettis

Love learning about the history, a history not talked about openly about the harm done to the great Hawaiian people, a very well cared for establishment that deserves 5 stars

Maxwell Salvatore

A must see on your stop to Honolulu. Did self-guided audio tour and the information was brief and interesting. Doesn't take too long if you do the bare minimum but also lets you listen to more audio segments if you want more information.

Ben Hollins

Worth the price for admission. Self guided tour of the palace with individual hearing device.

Miranda Fishburn

Insight into the sometimes tragic lives of Hawaiian royalty in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Was at the forefront of technology when built. Self-guided audio tours on timed tickets.

Larry Stepler

Visiting this palace was very helpful with understanding the monarchical history of Hawaii.

Ali Marie

I had a fantastic experience here when my mom came to visit. It was very educational and didn’t take an unreasonably long time. Parking in limited capacity is provided on the grounds which was not properly articulated online. Great experience and I highly recommend if visiting or living in Hawai’i.

evaristo martinez

Nice architecture and big open spaces.

RK Thomas

The Palace was very interesting. They have a 15 minute video giving a brief history of the King and Queens and the Palace. Very informative. The Palace has been restored exceptionally well. A great way to a couple hours in downtown. Recommended.

Huy Le

If you enjoy history or even want to learn about the history of royalty in Hawaii then i do recommend you stop by Iolani Palace. They offer a guided tour and a self guided tour with audio tape. We felt it was a bit pricey though at $20 for the self guided tour ($27 guided).

Randall Spriggs

Beautifully restored furnishings. Wonderful information on the history of the palace and Hawaii. The audio tour was well done, I recommend using earphones so you can see the pictures on the device when it has them.

Nikolaos Drakopoulos

A must see if you are visiting Honolulu. The architecture is great.

Craig Prater

Inside was closed to tours because we visited on July 4th. However the grounds are well kept, and the building has a sad history, as the royal palace of the last generation of the Hawaiian Kingdom. From what we could see, the inside is immaculate. The statue of King Kamehameha is right across the street. Bring coins for street parking, or pay more to park in the lot for the Palace itself.

Steven Forrest

A very worthwhile cultural experience while in Hawaii. Explains the history of the islands and how Hawaii became a US state. Beautiful interiors and interesting stories in the audio tour. Book in advance.

Julie Davis

Very beautiful outside, I’ve tried to tour it twice and both times it was closed. So check before you go.

Serena

This is a beautiful and regal place that honors the pain in the past - present for the people of Hawaii. I left with more understanding and appreciation for Iolani Palace and the beam of hope it is to Hawaii. If you visit, try to reserve your visit for a Friday at 9:30 or earlier so you finish your tour before noon when the Royal Hawaiian band plays in the lawn accompanied by hula and vocalists.

Ash KM

The official royal residence of Hawaii's last monarch, King Kalakaua which was built in 1882

Kathleen Starling

At the end of the year they offer tours in the evening celebrating Kapiolani's birthday, with dancers, hula, and musicians throughout. If you're here at that time I highly recommend it. My family and I dressed up, and we're not out of place.

Janice

Fantastic tour! Very well done! I found the tour extremely educational. I would recommend the Palace tour to everyone who visits Hawaii!

ann taintor

An amazing building built by the Hawaiian people. The docent led tour was wonderful. She spoke to the arrest of Queen Liliuokalani. Information on another instance of the white man stealing land from it's people. Highly recommend a visit. Make a reservation and go.

Gaby Prieto

We had great time the check in process was a little weird and didn’t make sense but amazing history

Jonathan

Wonderful place to learn the history of Hawaii and it's monarchy at your own pace. The staff was very helpful and friendly.

Kaylee Roholt

Amazing grounds. I wished to go inside, but the entrance fee was quite steep. Interesting to learn about the Hawaiian monarchs and history.

Gary Wehr

Be sure to book the guided tour. Jeffrey impressed us with his knowledge of the palace. Fully restored it will take you back in Hawaiian history. It’s not to be missed!

Vanessa P

The Chamberlain's Tour was great. Our guide provided an excellent overview of Hawaiian history. Really enjoyed the intimacy of a small group setting and getting to see everything up close.

Sonia Sarah

Beautiful. The audio tour is very exhaustive and well detailed. You'll learn a lot about Hawaiian history and royalty. It take about an hour to see everything and it's an hour well spent.

Ten Schippnick

So much history here. Some sadness, but very stunning and breathtaking. I wish I could have seen the palace during its prime days.

Dave Siklos

Beautiful palace. The audio tour was informative without being dull. Don't forget to check out the basement.

John Reeves

Great place to visit. If you are a history person, this place should be on your list.

Pavel “Kel” Terekhov

Saw it from outside. Tickets seem a bit pricey, but maybe it worth it. From outside it neat but small.

Chris Barrett

Suggest watching the Extra History videos on YouTube about Kamehameha first. Helps bring the people and deeds to life. Then visiting Iolani Palace fills in more detail and makes it all feel that much more _real_ than the Extra History series can deliver.

scottmillerdennis

Had a great day exploring the palace. A wonderful view into Hawaiian history. A must see in Honolulu

Lisa Harrison

Beautiful palace, the self-guided audio tour added much needed detail and context.

Taylor Ishida

Great place rich in history. If you can, go on fridays for a concert by the Royal Hawaiian Band at 12-1pm. It'll be a nice blast to the past.

Jack Tappe

Visit the seat of the Hawaiian monarchy. Learn the rich history of Hawaii.

Steve Okamura

Every local should visit this historical landmark. It's informative & free if you go on kamaaina day.

Dan Kunstman

A Honolulu must see!!

Alan Tsai

Love this must visit place where you can learn more about the Hawaiian royal family history.

Vernda E Monette

Beautiful historical place...the furniture was amazing. Enjoyed the tour

Peter Odaro

It was an eye opener to the elementary history of the native Hawaiian. The visit gave me the opportunity to learn about the early civilization of the people hitherto unknown to Europe. The serenity and calm demeanor of the people is admired. Hungry to learn more.

X Z

Beautiful palace but homeless camps all over the sidewalk next to the palace. Very sad.

Raechel Averett

The Palace is a great way to learn about the history of Hawaii. I thought it was beautiful. It's full of amazing dresses, dinner ware, furniture, draperies, a throne, paintings, etc. You'll get an audio device to listen to as you tour the palace, along with booties to put over your shoes. It may not be the best place to take rowdy toddlers who won't sit still while you listen to the tour. Plan to spend about an hour and a half to two hours. There is parking right behind the palace, no need to park on the street. *Side note: they are still checking Covid vaccination status and checking temperatures, so be prepared for that*

Jay Nasram

Well worth stopping by to walk the grounds and take in the fantastic architecture of this palace. There was no cost to visit on your own, I believe there is a tour available as well. Make sure to check out the banyan trees behind the palace, quite a sight.

Parsa Yousefi

Outside of this place is really beautiful as well as inside. For visiting inside you’ll have to purchase at least an audio tour which is not really great. You assume someone walks you and describes the history while they give you a phone, and you can hear every room’s story. I guess 25$ for visiting a place that takes at most 15 minutes a little high.

Joe Ferrari

Had a wonderful tour and dinner at the palace. The dozens were very knowledgeable.

Nick Irwin

Pretty interesting with the audio tour of the entire palace and history of Hawai’i.

Neil Young

A beautiful, historic time capsule. Wonderful maintained. So much mana and aloha here. Unbelievable.

Cathy Laney

The only Royal Palace on American soil. Within walking distance of cruise terminal. So many artifacts. Have a look

Christine Mayural

I always love coming to visit our palace. It is looking very beautiful. We went on a Thursday at 1:30 and had the best guide I have ever had. It was a very nice gentleman from the Hawaii Island, and I am very sorry I don't remember his name. When I go again I will go on a Thursday. Mahalo for a very well told story. 🌺💜 …

Lauren Machado

We did audio tour w/o out audio as information was a little dragged out and too detailed. Best part was walking around seeing the rooms and artifacts was great. Unique history and overall good experience.

Joshua Dippie

It was an approachable way to learn about some of the significant Hawian history. I only wish the tour could have been longer and more in depth. Architecture was well restored and had a different feel than a lot of European/American architecture from the same time.

Charles Corpuz

An important place for tourists and locals alike to visit.

Kenneth Rybeck

Great history about the Hawaiian culture Take the tour with a divine Well worth it

Gabe A.

The audio tour is necessary to understand most of what is on display in this historic palace. Some of the features and functions are a little out of date, maybe due to COVID, so be sure to ask and follow the instructions of the staff on site who will direct foot traffic. We are directed to ascend the staircase instead of the elevator, for instance. The final room in the tour takes a lot more time than the other rooms, despite having much less on display. Some further thought could be put into redistribution of audio content. As for how interesting, historic, or comprehensive the exhibits are, I found it to be quite impressive on all fronts. On all fronts. This isn't a museum format, but a recreation of the historic property and its furniture and trappings during the monarchy. The listening devices are of high quality and feature a color display to help orient the listener to what is being discussed.

nicjk

Incredibly rich and interesting history to be found. I took the audio tour with my family and it explained everything in exquisite detail. For both history buffs and history haters alike.

Maggie Lupton

This place is a must visit if you are in Honolulu!! All of the staff and guides were extremely knowledgeable and had a passion for sharing the history and culture of Hawaii. We learned so much about the rich history of the islands and how important the royal family had been. Also architecture lovers will enjoy a visit!

James Varenhorst

Able to buy tickets there then had to wait about 30min for tour time, but they have a short movie to watch and go through the basement museum area. Learned some interesting things about Hawaii Royal Family.

Brandon Steele

Great place to learn about the culture and history of Hawaii.

Kathryn Palmquist

Beautiful Victorian architecture! Very informative history. Well worth the visit

Sarah-Anne Fehr

Lovely experience, wonderful and knowledgeable guide. I’m so happy I made time for this on my trip.

Leslie Teng

The palace admittedly looked smaller than anticipated, but it is full of history. The audio tour is well organized and very informative; the artifacts on display are interesting. The tour lasts an hour, but be sure to budget extra time for exploring the basement as well.

Kevin C

A must see cultural spot for anyone visiting Hawaii. The restoration is impressive however I wish that story was presented before anything else rather than just being in the basement. Also whats up with the grounds, the enourmous Banyan trees, any info or connection to modern Capitol and the fort like gift shop building next door? I received no Info on any of these with audio tour.

Ming Alley

Phyllis was our tour guide, it was a great tour, due to her. Very knowledgeable. Only complaint was having other folks who were on self-guided tours who weren't so self aware. They needed a bit more guidance on courtesy.

Ingrid Martinez

Story is sad but inspiring. Couldn't imagine being held hostage practically in 1 room and kept away from the world.

Zoe Z

Need to reserve tour ticket days before visit. Free concert on the lawn in Friday noons.

Sarah Morgan

Very beautiful to see! Didn't go inside for the tour, but if I remember correctly, it wasn't too expensive. Park around the Palace is very calming and serene.

Shane Harden

Such a beautiful location in Honolulu. The huge trees and beautiful buildings make this a must stop on a beautiful sunny day.

Layne Curths

A great place to learn a lot about Hawaiian history.

Maddi Ortega

Beautiful place filled with Hawaiian history. 💖 Rest in peace Queen! …

Gentle John

Great place if you like palaces and opulent living. The question is how did the king get all of his riches. They do not talk about that.

Chris Fisher

I've wanted to come here since I was a kid. I cried at the detail and history here. You feel the life and sadness in the building, hiding in the walls. You go from room to room joyous of its early days but when you go into The Queens imprisonment room, you are over come by despair and sadness. This building maintains a life and essence and the caretakers and custodians bring such a story of love and betrayal, happy times and sad times. I can't wait to go back again. Parking was very tricky and don't park on King Street after 2.

Christina Deveau

Gorgeous architecture with rich history. I did the audio tour, and it was well done. All the staff were friendly and helpful

Sunshine D

A must see when coming to Hawaii so rich in history BTW they just gave the palace all new benches so it's a great place to picnic

Katya Morenets

It was a very lovely place, the tour guide was awesome and it was great to learn about Hawaiian history.

Ginnyus

Beautiful architectural place saddly we couldn't go inside when we visited there.

Dwayne Helton

Beautiful palace with great and sad history but worth the visit.

Glenn Rose

A beautiful building faithfully restored to its 19th Century grandeur. Get tour tickets from the building next door. Must visit when in Honolulu.

Andrius Gudelis

A must-visit place for those interested in culture and history. Beautiful palace, fascinating story of Hawaiian royalty, people of Hawaii, and their tradition. Brilliantly designed tour. I had tears in my eyes at the end. 5 STARS ✳️ ✳️✳️✳️✳️

Waikiki Resort Hotel First Rent A Car

very cool way to spend a few hours, plus xmas lights right down the street shaka santa!

Mark Myers

We were looking at the statue across the street and walked over to see the Palace. We learned the tour is $30 ea and were lucky to get tickets. (Swim suits are not allowed in the palace. So dress accordingly if you go)

Max Maybury

An underrated stop on our trip I really appreciated. Recommend if you want to know more about Hawaiian history. Outlines the story of the Monarchs of Hawaii with a tragic but typical story of shameless colonialism from the USA. The palace itself is very nice, well maintained, and small enough to thoroughly tour in two hours. I left feeling a deeper sense of appreciation for Hawaiian culture and fury at the atrocities my government committed on the way to making Hawaii a state. If you get there before your tour time, check out the basement exhibits and the informational video in the smaller building next door.

Candy

Really interesting. Takes about an hour and you learn a lot about the island's history. Well worth the time.

Michael Nguyen

Incredibly valuable experience. We enjoyed a self guided audio tour, which was enhanced by beautiful music and additional images. It also allowed us to wander the place at our own pace. Covid rules made it feel like one of the safest indoor places we visited in Hawai’i. When visiting the Kingdom, this is a must stop to learn about the history behind the land you are enjoying on your trip. There is a complex history (which is ongoing!) that I think all visitors should be aware of and respect

H. Steven Coote

Awesome to learn a small bit of Hawaiian history in such an impressive way!!!

David Thompson

Magnificent but sad vignette of Hawaiian history. It's a piece of American history that somehow doesn't get covered in American school history classes. Self guiding tour is well done. You get to see the Throne Room, King Kalakaua's room (complete with an early telephone!) and Queen Liliuokalani's bedroom, where she was kept prisoner. Through the Palace there are mannequins dressed in some of the Royal Family's magnificent old suits and dresses. If you're in Honolulu, you've gotta tour this place.

Douglas Crum

Celebrating the birthday of Queen kapiolani was a wonderful experience. If you missed this in 2018 please put on your calendar for 2019 in December.

Paul Korinko

An excellent opportunity to learn about the Hawaiian Royalty. The acquisition of the islands by the US government leaves a lot to be desired. It's interesting that it was driven by businessmen.

Vanessa Victoria

This was definitely a good tour. Gorgeous palace with great information. I really enjoyed the history!! My favorite was the Queen's jewelry.

Hea ven On ea rth

This place is incredible! This is worth the 20$ for the audio tour! We learned a lot of the last monarchy of Hawaii.

Dee Hinman

Beautifully restored !!! Loved seeing how the early Hawaiian royalty lived and worked to improve the lives of the Hawaiian people.

stephen f

Everyone should go here! Loved the audio tour. Must make reservations for that. Definitely worthwhile.

Eugene SF

Nice, historic place, but do bring a flashlight. Very dim lighting inside the palace, making it hard to examine some of the artifacts and exhibits. The palace faces the King Kamehameha statue across the street. Be very, very CAREFUL crossing this busy street. There are no stop lights or stop signs to get from the statue to Iolani Palace, just a faded crosswalk. The docent-led tour was nice but really packed.

Aaron Jensen

Fascinating palace with plenty of history about Hawaiian royalty

John Alexander

'Iolani Palace is steeped in grandeur, history, and the elegant opulence of a bygone era. The audio tour is extremely well done. Although the lighting is very subdued to protect the furnishings, my phone camera was able to compensate and took excellent photos. The Palace volunteers were extremely courteous, helpful, and knowledgeable. I've been visiting 'Iolani Palace for over 40 years, and it never disappoints.

Baz

Have to book tickets to enter the palace, the self guided audio tour works well, it is best to hang back a little bit, so you can get uninterrupted photos of the rooms.

Elizabeth Iñiguez

Listening to the story about how Hawaii was taken over made me cry!

joe31400

Great place to come and see some of Hawaii's history, its the only royal palace in America. Also a well designed building.

Kelly Ma

A must-see, the audio tour is excellent and we learned a lot about Hawaiian history. You can use the GoCity Oahu pass here, but you still need to call to make reservations.

Rabbi Emily Losben-Ostrov

Amazing! Powerful! Beautiful! A must see to understand and appreciate Hawaiian history. I am so glad we did this, it was a highlight of our trip. The Iolani Palace must be preserved, visited, and celebrated! Mahalo!

Dale Cary

Very informative tour. Our guide, Florence, was very good. We enjoyed ourselves and had a great time at the Kings Palace.

Bill Hörger

Awesome self guided tour. Worth the time to see how Hawaii became part of the USA.

Lyn Chaffart

Nice tour ... We did the docet-guided your ... But very expensive.

Jennifer Xu

Great place to visit to learn more about the history of Hawaii. You can reserve a time ahead of time. Plenty of parking around the palace

Bruno Selva

We did the guided tour and it was amazing!

Jeff

Great way to learn about Hawaii's history. Tour takes about 1.5 hours at your own pace with helpful audio.

Patty Willis

Loved this tour!!! Beautiful palace, enjoyed the history, highly recommend as part of your time in Honolulu. Audio tours are very well done, but only guided one allows you to walk up grand staircase!! Handicap accessibility is easy! Well worth your time to see how advanced and world recognized the Hawaiian royalty was!!

Lawrence L

The self guided tours was well worth it! It takes you room by room and gives plenty of background and history. There are snippets that are optional for those looking for even more background. Lots of priceless restoration and artifacts and their collection is growing as more items are recovered. I found it rather difficult to find parking. Ended up parking at a church (with paid parking) about a 5-10 min walk away

Amanda Scarpinato

We learned a lot of history on our palace tour. The guides are all volunteers and ticket proceeds go to restoration and other projects.

Lakhi Shergill

Amazing place!

Rosa Kome

Amazing to learb and understand the history behind Hawaiis last Queen

Tia Storey

Great historical tour and friendly, informative guides!

Veronica Palacios

This place was amazing to look back into history, stand where the king stood. This is an imersive tour that taught us the history of the island by an amazing guide.

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