Your Guide to Visiting Oahu, Hawai’i
TLDR: Located in downtown Honolulu, Iolani Palace is one of Hawai’i’s must-visit destinations. Once the seat of the Royal Hawaiin Kingdom’s government, the palace now stands as a museum and historic monument to Hawai’i’s past and culture. Reservations must be made at least one day in advance for a fee. Be aware of a dress code and certain accessibility limitations in the palace. While the tour is a great educational resource for some kids, younger children may have difficulty focusing on the content.
I’ll be honest – while I do love museums and visiting historic landmarks, the MAIN reason I wanted to visit the palace and this part of Honolulu is because of Hawaii Five-O. If you aren’t a watcher of the show, they usually include some b-roll footage of the outside buildings in this area (including the King Kamehameha statue located across the street).
So the fact that I couldn’t get the theme song out of head while in Honolulu was the largest reason the palace was on my radar. And of course, I had to see it for myself
And I’m so glad I did.
Beyond its pop-culture status (to me!), the palace is such an important part of history that unfortunately many of us may not know much about. In fact, I consider this spot in particular to be a place tourists should visit at least once – especially if you are an American.
Beautiful, tragic, and hopeful, ‘Iolani Palace deserves to be on your travel list.
Read on for why I think this downtown spot is an essential!
Why ‘Iolani Palace is so Important
Once upon a time, Lahaina was the governing center of the Hawaiian Kingdom. However, in 1845/1850, the capital of the Kingdom’s government was moved to Honolulu and ‘Iolani Palace was established.
‘Iolani Palace has seen so much. It was where diplomats and sailors dined with royals, where modernization and innovation were on display, where governments met, and where an unlawful takeover of the Kingdom occurred.
The palace grounds, and the palace building itself, have represented many things over the years. Today, it stands as a testament to what has been and reminds us of the “thriving dignity of the unique people of Hawai’i.”
The Logistics
At a Glance
Address: 364 S King St, Honolulu, HI 96813
Hours: 9AM-4PM (Tuesday-Saturday)
Parking: Metered parking space
Reservations/Tickets: Need to be purchased at least one day in advance
Cost: Depends on tour choice – $27+ (adults); $12+ (children)
Parking at Iolani Palace
Located in Downtown Honolulu, ‘Iolani Palace is intermixed with various other public service and government buildings. Speaking from my personal experience parking is a little difficult and traffic can really slow things down.
That being said, I suggest that you plan for a little extra drive time in case you need to circle the block to get parking. There are several metered spots lining the building (as well as a few on the property itself), so you will be able to find something.
Reservations and Tickets
Tickets for tours need to be purchased at least one day in advance. There are a variety of different tours to check-out (more on that below!), but everything can be booked online here.
The palace grounds don’t require a reservation. Here, you can see the Baracks, the historic Hawai’i State Public Library, and a few other statues, government buildings, and landmarks. And a gorgeous banyan tree.
Accessibility at the Palace
The palace grounds are wheelchair accessible – but parts of the palace require a little bit more planning. Motorized or electric wheelchairs (or scooters) are not allowed inside the palace itself. However, the palace grounds do have wheelchairs available (for free) – just call ahead to ensure one is available for you.
Dress Code and Etiquette for Iolani Palace
There is most definitely a somber sort of air at the palace. The seat of the Royal Hawaiian Kingdom and site of important historic moments, the palace does command a respect from its guests.
When I first was planning a visit, my second stressor was figuring out what exactly was dress-code appropriate (the first was figuring out parking). While the palace does outline what is approved, my overthinking self didn’t feel all that confident until I arrived – and everything was fine.
Many of the docents were wearing Aloha wear, khakis, and closed-toed shoes. The guests had a lot more variation. From what I can tell, beachwear or gym wear are definite no-go’s. Shoes (including sandals) and shirts are required – clothing should be free of profanity.
No flash photography or videography is allowed inside the Palace to help preserve the artwork and palace features. Non-flash photography is fine.
While small bags are permitted, you will be asked to carry your bag in the front – which is pretty standard for most museums. If you have larger items, you can rent a locker. My small sling-camera bag was perfect for the day.
What to Do at ‘Iolani Palace
The Must-Do: Take a Tour of the Palace
Entrance to the palace is by reservation only. That being said, the process is pretty easy and I was able to book things in minutes from my phone the day before. Tours can be booked online (for a fee). From there, arrive a little early to account for parking and check-in. We got there just a few minutes before, but if we had been there earlier there is a small film you can check out in the barracks ahead of time.
There are several different tour options. If you speak English or Japanese, there are several docent tours to choose from. For those who are more comfortable in another language, the audio tours come with more language capabilities.
I opted for the standard docent-led tour. After being greeted by the docent in a traditional Hawaiian welcome chant as gentle mist fell around, we were then directed to put on shoe coverings before being ushered inside the building. Once inside, we were surrounded by refined (and regal) decor, furnishing the wooden interior.
If it’s available to you, I would highly recommend booking with a docent. Not only will you get additional insight not on a recording, you’ll also have the chance to ask questions. For instance, I learned that the Hawaiian Kingdom had been forcibly taken over by the British Government well before the American businessmen imprisoned Queen Liliʻuokalani – suggesting that there was a precedent and expectation that a peaceful restoration of power would occur (and, as history shows us, never happened).
A Fun Addition: Check-out the Gallery
The gallery is located on the bottom floor of the palace. Guided tours will conclude at the gallery, allowing you time to explore at your leisure. You can also purchase tickets just to see the gallery, which feature different exhibits throughout the year.
Unfortunately at this point in the tour, I needed some food to replenish my energy. I don’t know what it is about museums, but they always leave me hungry! If I get the chance to go again, I’ll be sure to eat a better meal before I head out – brain fuel is necessary!
If You Have Time: Stop by the Gift Shop
Any trip isn’t complete without checking the gift shop out, in my opinion. Located in the barracks, there are several cute and interesting local goods to peruse. Things do run on the pricier end though.
For Further Enrichment: Walk Around the Palace Grounds
Like I mentioned above, there are a variety of different landmarks, monuments, and buildings in the area to check out. Beyond that, it’s also just a peaceful space. If anything, I highly recommend walking through the Banyan tree – they are just beyond beautiful and relaxing.
In my opinion, ‘Iolani Palace is a must visit for all American tourists visiting the area. It provides an introductory vital education on the Hawaiian Kingdom and the area’s complicated history with the United States.
All in all, it was a truly special experience!
Have you been to ‘Iolani Palace? What was your time there like?
TL;DR Travels 
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