Friday Part 2 - Iolani Palace

August 10, 2012

Tonight I went to a special event at Iolani Palace. This was special for several reasons. First, the palace is only open to visitors one night a year in December. This special event was held at night and it was beautiful to see the palace with it's lights in the dark. Second, the palace only allows visitors to see the first floor. This event allowed visitors to see the second floor and to use the central staircase to get there. Third, no photos are allowed to be taken inside the palace. For this event photos were allowed. So I could not have had a better opportunity to see the palace. I wanted to share this experience in detail with those of you who wish to see this beautiful bt of history. The photos document my arrival and tour experience so you will see the palace in light and darkness.

First a bit of history. Please be aware I am taking this information from the Iolani Palace website so you may wish to go there and read more about it yourself. The link is here.

Early History

To enhance the prestige of Hawai`i overseas and to mark her status as a modern nation, the Hawaiian government appropriated funds to build a modern palace. The cornerstone for `Iolani Palace was laid on December 31, 1879 with full Masonic rites. Despite a quick succession of three architects, work progressed at the hands of locally obtained contractors, artisans, and laborers. The building was complete enough by August of 1882 for King Kalakaua to hold a luncheon for members of the Legislative Assembly. In December of that year King Kalakaua and Queen Kapi`olani took up residence in their new home.

The Name of The Palace

The first palace was known as Hale Ali`i (House of the Chief). Kamehameha V changed its name to `Iolani Palace in honor of his late brother and predecessor. `Io is the Hawaiian hawk, a bird that flies higher than all the rest, and lani denotes heavenly, royal, or exalted. Although the old palace was demolished in 1874, the name `Iolani Palace was retained for the building that stands today.

The Best of The Modern World

The new `Iolani Palace was outfitted with the most up-to-date amenities, including indoor plumbing. Gas chandeliers installed when the Palace was first built were replaced by electric lighting five years later (less than seven years after Edison invented the first practical incandescent bulb). The King also installed a modern communications system that included the recently invented telephone.

There is a lot more history. Some of it is wonderful and some tragic. The imprisonment and forced abdication of Queen Lili`uokalani is yet another chapter in the US using whatever means necessary to annex lands. I will now proceed to the photos and leave you to pursue the history if you so desire.

My arrival at the palace. 

 These are a few of the molding carvings on the ceiling of the lanai (porch) area outside the main entrance.

 Inside the main entryway. These doors are lovely. The photo is very hard to see.

 These are the doors between the Blue Room, the parlor immediately to the left of the main entrance, and the Dining Room. These are HUGE pocket doors (doors that side into the walls to open) and are made of koa wood as are all of the doorways in the first and second floors of the palace and the stairway.

 A sideboard with serving dishes and silver. The furniture photos are of original furniture fromt he palace that has been reacquired and restored, not reproductions.

 One of the side doors from the Dining Room into the main entry hall.

 Another sideboard with beautiful silver.

 The dining table with glassware, linens, utensils, and china.

 Some of the lovely silver pieces in the dining room.

 A water closet (toilet). Why am i taking a photo of a toilet? Because indoor plumbing of any type in the 1800's was unique. This was a toilet fit for royalty which included a flushing mechanism. This included a pull chain but not from an obvious tank.

 The throne room. The draperies and carpets are reproductions made from patterns of scraps of the originals that were cut up and auctioned off after the monarchy was overthrown.

 The thrones are unrestored.

 A case with the scepters and crowns.

Normally this would conclude the tour. However due to the special event we were allowed to continue on.

To be continued...

Aloha!
~Melissa