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| Throne Room - first floor |
Lulu and I love many things about Hawaii. The history and the culture are just different and tragic. Iolani - the Royal Hawaiian Palace gathers it all together. It is the heart of the wonderful former kingdom. The Palace sits in the middle of downtown Honolulu.
Hawaii has 8 major islands and they were separately ruled for years. Eventually - King Kamehameha joined the islands under one ruler. Around 1850 - monarchs were elected - not inherited. In about 1880 - King David built the Royal Palace to entertain other countries. When he died around 1890 in San Francisco - Queen Lili was elected monarch.
The Palace was only used as a home for about 10 years. A coup was held led by the Dole Family - and Hawaii became a Republic with a Dole as president. Dole Fruit was being taxed to enter the USA - so he steered Hawaii to be a US territory. So from roughly 1900 to 1960 - Hawaii enjoyed the protection of the USA - without the taxation. Finally in 1959 - it became the 50th state.
Hawaii has fantastic tropical weather - all year around. The ocean keeps it cooler in summer and warmer in winter. Everything grows here - everything except snakes - no snakes
At one time there were 300,000 Native Hawaiians - disease from the white man reduced that to 24,000. Today only 10% of Hawaiians are pure Hawaiian. There is a wonderful school here funded by big benefactors - called the Kamehameha School. It is open to natives of a certain percentage of native blood.
Another tragic tale of Hawaii was the "leper colony" called Kalaupapa on Molokai Island. People were brutally collected up and deposited there. They were banned for life. Today that colony still exists - a few Hansen's Disease patients live there although the disease is cured. They can leave but choose to stay. It is such a beautiful and sad place. 7000 people died and are buried there.
PALACE
The palace was the capitol building for 70 years. They have built a new capitol next door - and have restored the old palace with private donations. The place is spectacular.
The tour was $15 - there were very few people there. You are given audio/video device that explains everything. Do not visit the island without seeing it.
The building is rectangular - with 3 floors. The monarchs lived on the top floor. The staterooms are on the first floor - and the basement was storage rooms - now used to display historic items. This building had electricity and telephones before the White House. Each room had its own bathroom - not bad for 1880 - on a tropical island.
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| Queen Lili - the palace behind |
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| The new adjacent state capitol |
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Royal Palace back door.
You start tour here. |
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| Banyan tree in palace yard |
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| Grand staircase to residence |
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| Royal dining room - first floor |
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| King David's big chair |
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| Flushing toilet |
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| Bathroom sink |
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Dumbwaiter brings food up
from basement kitchen |
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| Drawing room - first floor |
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| King's library - second floor |
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| In 1880 - the king has phones |
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| Each bedroom had a bathroom |
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| King's Bed quilt. |
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| King's bedroom - second floor |
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| Queen's bedroom - second floor |
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| Queen's bathroom |
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Queen Lili was imprisoned
in this room during the coup |
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| Queen Lili made these quilts |
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| Note quilt writings |
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| Dining room - first floor |
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| King David built palace |
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| Bathroom stalls by dining room |
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Lulu at new capitol
Father Damien statue
He served the leper colony
They use the term Hansen's Disease - not leprosy.
I use leper for understanding -
as in the Bible.
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