The only royal palace on U.S. soil, you will find it the most beautiful place on the island. Kept in pristine condition, the artifacts include his majesty’s uniforms, and personal possessions. View the quilt Queen Lili’uokalani created by hand during her incarceration and learn of the historic overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy. There are so many unique qualities to the palace, including electricity and plumbing. You will walk into the throne room, see beautiful, etched glass, door hinges and hand carved koa wood staircases. Kaulana was our tour guide, and his Hawaiian language was phenomenal as well was his Hawaiian history and accuracy. He answered all our questions about the people of the period, the business of politics in Hawai’i, and how the overthrow became a reality. As a woman born and raised here before we became a state, I took pride seeing the King’s hat sitting on his desk in his office. The words “Territory of Hawaii” on my birth certificate, meant something at that moment. I highly recommend this private tour where reservations are needed as there are only six spots available per tour. Receive a special souvenir, unique to the tour at the end of your visit.

While visiting Honolulu, I was looking for something to do that was relatively cost-effective but also interesting. Iolani Palace was the perfect option! I was able to easily book tickets online through the website. Within walking distance of my hotel, I was able to walk the streets of Honolulu to Iolani with no issue. And once inside, the staff were kind and provided an opportunity to explore the palace at my own pace while easily learning of its history via a self guided audio tour. For anyone visiting Honolulu looking for an interesting chance to learn about the royalty that once existed in Hawaii, I highly recommend Iolani Palace. You won’t be disappointed!

Iolani Palace is the #1 place I take visitors. It's an excellent introduction to the Kingdom of Hawaii and Native Hawaiian experience. The palace and grounds are beautiful, the staff is professional and full of Aloha, and the self guided audio tour only takes like an hour. I learn something new every time I go. I also love to attend the monthly Kama'aina Sundays - great performances under the shade out on the lawn and a great place to meet up with friends.

My husband and I loved our docent-led tour of the Iolani Palace because we both love learning about history, politics, art, etc. Wherever we travel, we find it important to learn about and respect the story of the land, and this intention is especially important when visiting Hawaii, a kingdom that was forcibly annexed against the indigenous government's will, in large part due to what we would today consider to be corporate greed. We are all so lucky to be able to travel here. But do not worry that this tour will be depressing or make you feel bad. While there are tragic elements to the story, it is overall uplifting! You learn about the hard work Hawaiians have done to restore this symbol of their history along with the contributions of helpful people from around the world, many of them tourists. If anything, it will make you feel good because your visit supports these efforts. Miscellaneous tips: We recommend this tour if you are the kind of traveler who likes museums and can walk and stand comfortably (there is an elevator for those who have difficulty climbing stairs) for at least an hour. The website recommends two hours to enjoy the tour and, after the tour, the gallery of artifacts. But if you are the type of museum-goer who likes to look at and read everything, I actually recommend paying for four hours of parking. My husband and I ran out of time to look in each room; and we had to park across the street, so I didn't think it was worth it to return, add more money to our meter, and then walk back. Give yourself at least 20 minutes to find parking and walk to the palace, because it was difficult to navigate all the one-way streets. Once you reach the palace grounds, you check in for the tour at the "barracks," which was the separate structure that looks like a chess rook; this was not intuitive from the confirmation email, nor were there any written signs.

We did the self-guided audio tour only because the docent-led tour wasn’t offered on the day we visited. We worried the audio tour would be of inferior quality. We were very pleasantly surprised! The palace provides the audio devices, which are similar to a handheld phone. The device offers good quality sound and easy navigation to replay or pause anything you want. The small group sizes keep you from feeling crowded, and the pace is as slow or fast as you want it to be. There’s always staff nearby to answer any questions. The palace itself and the artifacts within are of the highest museum quality, and the information provided in the audio is culturally and historically accurate, but without being preachy. We were very impressed by the whole experience.

The restoration of this palace is fantastic. This is a fascinating insight to the story of Hawaii, its monarchy and how it was overthrown, the tour features an audio guide which brings the history to life in a human way. Be prepared to leave all drinks at the door (including water) on the way in and you collect them when you leave. The palace is small and compact and the audio guide controls the length of the tour. You will need to book an entry time when you buy your tickets, new tours start every 15-30 mins. I think young kids wouldn’t enjoy this attraction ( it seems really boring) but older kids would could really learn something here. As another reviewer says, remember to head into the basement exhibits after the tour ends so see more cool stuff.

If you want to live a unique experience with a chamberlain who will explain the whole story as if you were at the time when the castle was inhabited by the last king , do not miss this opportunity and book directly with them online the guided tour with chamberlain. We were a total of 5 people for a visit of almost 2 hours. They gave us access to places that the general public can visit. A whole experience! And I am humbly at a dozen royal castles.

Having seen over 100 palaces throughout Europe, Middle East and Asia I was really hesitating if to go into this one. Specially at a steep entry fee of around 30$ pp (27$ entry + parking). However, the fact it's the only palace in entire Pacific region and in all US prevailed and I've visited on early Saturday morning. The tour lasts around an hour exploring two floors, audio guide included. It tells the whole history of the Kingdom, but with emphasis on the last ruler King Kalakaua who built the Palace in 1882 implementing new inventions of the era like running water and electricity, he got acquainted with during his travels to Europe and implemented them even before the White House. The palace is also the place where he was overthrown by white western strong financial clan (Hawaii League), who regarded him as an enemy for their business goals and who wanted to annex Hawaii into US. In order to prevent blood spill Kalakaua ordered his Royal guard to back off and signed a new Constitution in which he actually disarmed himself from legislative and military power. Touring the Palace you're about to see the Grand staircase leading up to King and Queen's bedrooms, dressing and play rooms, while on the ground floor are reception halls, dining room along with kitchen. By no means do not expect opulence of European palaces, but it was still nice and educative to see their influence mixed with local culture in a palace on the other end of the world.

Excellent experience and knowledge about Hawai’i kings, queens and their kingdom. The “Palace” has been meticulously restored and will be enjoyed for generations. We took the audio tour which lasts 1-2 hours depending if you want to listen to a section again. Exceptionally easy to get to using The Bus. Highly recommend making reservations on line for various times and dates which was very easy. Don’t forget the ground level or basement area where other exhibits and the restrooms are located.

An Enchanting Evening at Iolani Palace Attending the evening tour of Iolani Palace for the Queen’s Birthday celebration was an unforgettable experience. The palace itself is magnificent, beautifully lit in the evening, and the guided tour brought its rich history to life. The celebration added a special touch, with thoughtful details honoring the Queen’s legacy. From the cultural performances to the historical anecdotes shared by the guides, everything was incredibly well done. It felt like stepping back in time while being part of a meaningful tribute. The staff was welcoming and knowledgeable, and the atmosphere was both festive and reverent. If you’re in Honolulu and have the chance to attend an event like this, I highly recommend it. It’s a unique way to connect with Hawaii’s royal heritage and enjoy an evening filled with history and culture. A true 5-star experience!