Reviews of Iolani Palace (Museum)

Michelle Covey

Beautifully restored. I learned a lot about the history of the place. I think you have to take a tour to visit and walk through the inside. Also have to wear booties over your shoes to protect the floors. You can walk around the grounds and see the outside for free all day until 7pm.

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.

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.

Katie Tran

Tours start every 10-15 minutes. Free parking on Saturdays. 20 dollars for audio tour. 27 for guided tour. Spend about 1 hr. Two floors. I loved this, best part of my trip to Hawaii.

HiTz

I cried as an adult seeing this palace. It brought the reality of the past to me. Knowing that the final days of the Royal Hawaiian Monarchy took place here and the queen and her subjects were forced to sit idly by as the Kingdom Of Hawaii was taken from them by capatilists with the help of the U.S. army. All to turn the beautiful Hawaiian islands into a hub for it's own military and capitalistic endeavors. Please be mindful of this past when visiting these beautiful grounds. Native Hawaiians have had a very rough history and this palace is a bastion of hope that the Hawaiian people may receive reparations for the heinous things that have been wrought against them.

Morgan Thomas

Beautiful and historic however not baby friendly at all. Wouldn’t allow me to bring a stroller and theirs wouldn’t fit my 4 month old. I had to carry her and then they wouldn’t let me bring my diaper bag in (said I had to carry it on my front... hello I’m carrying a baby on my front). Also no changing tables in bathrooms (that I could find at least). I certainly understand the need for rules but really come on people. However highly recommend to go visit... without a baby.

Harold Medford

Pretty grounds. We didnt go inside. Just stared it from outside.

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.

Denney Rowcliffe

Iolani Palace has always been my favorite tours in Oahu. I cannot even fathom the māna (powerful energy) it has on the grounds of the Palace. I wish that everyone could go and visit and I always recommend the palace tour to my friends and penpals all over the world. I have been to the Palace on different years in middle school and high school. That was literally 15 years ago, but I just went in August, and a lot has changed.

Emily Fox

Informative and engaging. The audio tour has a companion visual component that augments the audio recording, providing additional context for the information offered during the tour. A bit long-winded in parts. The palace has been restored beautifully, and we especially appreciated the free use of a stroller for our 4-year-old.

Bryanna Lape

Full of rich history and beautiful artifacts. Staff is nice and inviting.

Sajja's Travel

This palace was well ahead of its time. Im glad I visited it.

Nicholas Doty

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!

Brenna Hart

Beautiful and well-maintained historical site!

Richard Stevens

Very emotional experience if you're Hawaiian. The realization that the Kingdom of Hawaii was once a sovereign nation is powerful. If you're excited about Hawaiian history this a must stop. We went for dinner and the hour long tour. Had a great time. Would go again.

Michael Corbett

Hours are difficult... we just took outside pics and shopped gift store.

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.

Karen Awana

A beautiful palace located in the heart of Honolulu. The Iolani Palace tour will provide you with a treasure trove of historical artifacts and insightful information about Hawaiian Royalty found no where in the United States.

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.

Emily McKenzie

A great example of the Hawaiian kingdom and its modern history.

Christina Lupi

This place was beautiful. Talk about royalty! We had a hilarious and amazing tour guide for this. He used to work for the District Attorney, so he was telling us stories about how he used to come to this palace to do work here. The palace is beautiful. The tour is so interesting and has a lot to show you in such a short amount of time. They go through every room and show you so many things, it's hard to take it all in that this once was a place where royalty lived. We did the first tour of the morning and since this place is beautiful at that time. It's definitely worth checking out. Make sure to bring a camera or your phone because there's a lot of things you don't normally get to see up close like the jewels and crowns.

christopher weber

Took a guided tour that was very interesting and informative. Invest a couple of hours and I hope you'll feel the same. We we're there about 2 hours total and came away with a new appreciation of the native Hawaiian people.

MRDL236123

Excellent guided tour, I learned a lot and had a wonderful time in this beautiful place. Thank you, Phyllis, for your knowledge and personal touches on your tour. This was the highlight of my trip of a lifetime!

Corbin Buss

Beautiful. My words on Google won't capture how special this place is. If you're on the island, check the Palace out. Only royal site in the United States. And it was electrified before the White House. Thumbs up Iolani Palace.

John Walker

You have to visit if you are near here on holiday, great.

Linda Maack Green

Beautiful and very well maintained. We brought my two kids (age 1 and 4) and was impressed with how well they catered to them. When everyone had to wear booties, they had kids under age 5 sit in a stroller they provided. Then they gave my kids the audio player so they can push buttons and be entertained while the parents listened to the audio. I am very grateful for this and their kindness!

Frances Holland

The experience was amazing and well done. The self-guided tour allowed you to view the hallways and rooms of former kings and queens of Hawai'i at your own pace. The different artifacts brought to life the days when these kings and queens held dinner parties and hosted guests in their homes.

Christina Cogen

Beautiful grounds and my visits always transport me back to better times. Love my home and love the aina. Great job!

Jessica Hash

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!

Christina

Wood flooring and woodwork excellently preserved. You have to wear covers on your shoes. We did the audio tour. Guided tours are only certain hours. There is an elevator.

Rhett Kuseski

We only got to see the outside but what a beautiful building and surrounding area. Definitely a must-see if you are close by. Maybe check out the schedule for inside access and or tours. Parking was a little crazy but we eventually found street parking at a meter and walked a block or two which was not too bad. Part of a tour group would have even been better for parking purposes.

AnnMarie Jones

What a gem. Come for a little history of the Hawaiian royalty, see what amazing people and how strong they are!

Teresa Salvaggio

The only Royale Palace in the USA. it was very interesting. Must see!!

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.

Rhonda Marie

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.

RVF 360

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

El Mesteño Ranch - Camille Marie

The palace was equally beautiful and educational. I am so thrilled to have been able to visit this piece of Hawaii's incredible history and learn more about this beautiful state's struggles and triumphs. A must see!

Robert Couch

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

Richard F

Very nice. Well worth the visit. A must see for Hawaiian history. Fabulous building and displays. Restoring to original. Great!

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.

Barde Todd

We were on a cruise that parked at pier 11 and were able to easily walk to Iolani Palace. We had signed up on line for a docent lead tour, and it was fantastic. Building is wonderfully renovated. Colleen our tour guide brought the building to life with the history of the royal Hawaiian family. Very enjoyable. very sad to see that the Hawaiian "royalty" imitated European architecture, dress, etc. But it is certainly what they built, and it is well curated and preserved

Jessica Sepulveda

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!

Maria Fair

This was a really nice tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable and made our experience here worthwhile. This is still a very beautiful place even after all these years

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.

Daunavan Buyer

We had a hard experience to rate here but overall it was not good. Our one year old was with us which was fine she went with us to all the palaces we visited in Europe. When we checked in the hostess told us we would need to use one of their strollers, which was also fine. When we got the stroller the guide told us our daughter either had to be held or in the stroller. The problem was that as soon as we went to comfort our crying daughter (who was interrupting the tour) a different guide told us that we are not allowed to hold our child. When we tried to put her back in the stroller and she continued crying they escorted us out and asked us to leave. We only saw one room in the palace. Thankfully one of the other guides felt bad for us and allowed a few of us (without our child) to see the throne room. As I said it’s hard to rate but the fact that no one communicated realistic expectations to us for what it would be like with our child before we checked in and got our tickets was horrible customer service. Everywhere else we were on the island exuded “aloha” and hospitality but we felt indifference and a stuck up attitude here. Not child friendly.

steven fielding

The palace is not that large. It was interesting learning about the history of the rulers through the audio recordings they provided. Informative but not what you may expect a "palace" to look like. If you go, don't forget to go to the basement. They have a lot of items belonging to the royal family on display i.e. jewels, swords, etc.

Omair Aysha

It's a fun thing to do if you have time. But no need to make time specially for this

Fred Goya

Beautiful place to visit. Bring your friends and family and re-live history.

Patricia bass

It was so awesome!! The palace has been beautifully restored. It was a educational, but in a fun way. Even my ten year old loved it.

Carol Walzer

So much history and it's a beautiful place

S Belgrove

Nice learned alot

Michael Gallucci

Beautiful and historic place. Only palace on U.S. soil

Mario Faiman

The devices they give you for the tour worked well. Some of them go on and play music which we found was annoying), but you can skip ahead on any of the tracks with the two dash buttons (life saver). The palace is very well kept up and the staff are helpful.

Nicholas K

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.

Steven Mulari

Great tour guide. It really drives into the history of the Monarchy of Hawaii.

Willie Sheffield

This place is amazing. Beautiful and well worth seeing. Its in town and parking on site, if there isnt any available parking then there is a parking garage across the street. Willie S. North Carolina

Gregory Austin

The palace itself is beautiful and they are doing tremendous work to restore it. That said, our tour was awful. We wanted to go mainly to learn about the history of the islands, the unification, and eventual coup, and the annexation. All we learned about was what dresses the women wore, who the King liked to entertain as guests, and what the bedrooms were like. No history at all aside from the period furniture and plumbing. On top of that, our tour guide kicked us out because our one year old son was too chatty. Not screaming or upset, just chatty. She told us she couldn't concentrate or talk over him (she was already the quietest tour guide I've ever heard) anymore. It was the very end of the tour so by the time we got back outside the rest of the group was right behind us. Instead of letting us finish the tour with dignity she had to kick us out with 45 seconds left. It was very embarrassing. I wanted to ask for a refund but we also just want to leave as soon as we could. In fairness, it may have simply been an issue with our particular tour guide. Most of the staff seemed very accommodating and had no issues with a child. I also have heard that other guides talk a little more about history. Either way, I would not return.

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.

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.

Joe Ferrari

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

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!

David Nedde

Beautifully restored interior. The electronic audio guide was interesting and added to the experience, giving the historical context for the building and artifacts. The interior had many rooms arranged as they were originally. Other rooms were a bit bare, I think they are working on getting artifacts that were sold off or stolen in the past returned. The cellar had a nice small museum of artifacts in various rooms as well as a small gift shop. Several areas were still being developed and I think the cellar will become even better over time.

Sheila M Young

It is a beautiful building with so much history. Had an excellent docent for our tour, Anne. Everyone should visit the Palace.

Jeff Brown

Hawaii used to be a sovereign monarchy. Iolani Palace was the last residence of kings and queens off people in the United States. Crazy!

Jessica Neely

I did the audio tour! Usually, they can be a bit cheesy, but this one was wonderful. Informative without being dry in the slightest. Definitely a must see!

Alisha Adames

Beautiful palace. They do certain days where it’s free to go and or discounted to go. It doesn’t cost very much tho. When you get there they give you shoe covers and a different stroller to go inside with. A little audio player and headphones to listen to the tour. The palace was beautiful but I definitely thought it would be more because of all the other palaces I’ve ever seen it was very grand and extravagant. This was very fancy and small when I really thought of it. When going down stairs there was a eery kinda feeling maybe I’ve watched to many ghost shows tho lol. The gift shop is down stairs and a little photo booth where you can email your photos to yourself

John Reeves

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

Aaron Klatt

I only visited the outside and the surrounding park and there were plenty of scenic spots and some of the biggest trees that I've ever seen. The large banyan trees in particular are very interesting. There are lots of photo opportunities here.

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.

Ronny Cowart

Everyone visiting Hawaii should explore this exquisite royal gem. It's remarkable architecture is stunning. Every aspect of this royal palace is charming and even breathtaking. It is awesome to walk the footsteps of royal kings and gracious and tragic princesses. The caretakers are crabby and seem eager to go home, but who cares. This is the essence of Hawaii.

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.

Donald Chambers

The audio tour was a waste and the parking left me and my family stranded. CAUTION: Vehicle was towed outside the gate and had to pay $145 towing fee on top of a $50 parking ticket

Jonathan Ribbe

The palace was gorgeous, the audio tour was informative and interactive, and the best part was how quiet and calm the whole tour was. There were a few rooms that seemed a little bare but they are constantly researching to make it as accurate as possible. We purchased the military tickets at $16 a piece which was a fair price for the amount of information you learn and the interesting sights.

Jay Nasam

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.

Branden Brown

Was pretty cool. We did the audio tour which was good but I would probably recommend the guided tour.

Alison Loudon

An amazing palace, well restored. Tour guide brilliant and very knowledgeable, a great experience! Thank you

Ernesto Trujillo

Lot of history here. If you have time visit this place

Gnope Wnope

Beautifully done! Enjoyed the tour and history

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

Salena Salena

Ver beautiful and educational for my family and I

Cal A

Highly recomnend the tour not only for tourists, but especially locals and the young ones. Hawaiian history is important. The people who run the tours are helpful, friendly and knowledgeable.

Penguin Laurent

Get the audio tour, you won't regret it!

Dave Siklos

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

Russ Lacuata

Former residence of the Hawaiian monarchs. A national historic landmark and the only official State residence of royalty in the United States. Iolani Palace was the official residence of the Hawaiian Kingdom's last two monarchs: King Kalakaua and his sister and successor, Queen Liliuokalani. The palace was a symbol of the promise for the Hawaiian Kingdom. Influenced by European architectural styles The rich interior features a beautiful koa staircase, dramatic portraits of Hawaiian royalty, ornate furniture and royal gifts and ornaments from around the world.

Stephanie Kuhn

Easy self guided tour. Timed entry. Small but interesting palace on US soil.

Albert Chan

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.

Chris Hinson

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

Moni B.

Local residents: one Sunday a month you can tour the Palace for free! Check the Palace website for dates. For your first visit I recommended going on a human guided tour instead of using an audio-guide. Be sure to also visit the galleries in the basement after your tour, and stop by & browse one of their gift shops if you can! Their annual Christmas ornaments make excellent gifts.

Marc Rogers

Our docent, Jenny, was delightful. She gave an excellent tour and answered all of our questions. Facisinating historical coverage of Hawaiian government and culture.

Monty Cobb

Fascinating. Well informed docents describe the history of not only the palace but also of the remarkable royals who lived there, their accomplishments and the events that shaped their lives. The palace and furnishings have been meticulously restored. Many things are visually stunning. It is a beautiful window into the past. I was surprised to learn how connected these royals were with the heads of state in Europe and the United States. There are more surprises in store too for a first time visitor. .

Kristian Petersen

Coming here have me a new appreciation for Hawaii and it's people.

Kathleen Oland

If you are coming to Hawai'i, don't forget to stop by this museum! It is a beautiful palace where many great Hawaiian royals lived. I am a huge history nerd, so whenever I go somewhere I always try to find a museum to learn the history. Hawai'i has a very rich and deep history! I would randomly research about the kings & queens that once ruled the islands. My gf and I did the self guided tour ($25~). Before you enter they give you shoe covers! We were given headphones and a device that looked like a phone. Each specific place of the palace is numbered, so you go to a certain room and just click that number on the device. The first floor included the dining room, the grand stair case (it's still original, so you aren't allowed to go on it), sitting room, and the throne room! Once you take the elevator up, you see all the rooms! You can also go down to the basement where the kitchen used to be. Overall, the palace was beautiful! I learned a little bit about Queen Liliuokalani in my Asian Am class, and I was just so fascinated by her and her family so I am so glad that I finally got to see the palace!

Tim Allardyce

Amazing. Really enjoyed the palace. Toy sti a self guided audio tour which tells your about each room & the Hawaiian royals. Don't miss the basement either, I nearly did. The kitchen's and servants areas are great too. It's a very modern palace & had modern features like electricity & flushing toilets before European palaces did. Definitely worth it.

Sherry Balow

A beautiful museum and preserved piece of Hawaii history. Don't miss it.

Stian Klingenberg

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

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.

David Thompson

Magnificent but sad vignette of Hawaiian history. Self guiding tour is well done.

Colin Gwin

Truly amazing home tour. Level of respect and preservation is exceptional.

Daniel White

We learned a great deal of a slice of Hawaiian history. We did the audio tour, which was one of the best audio tours I have on.

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.

Hai Martin

A visually detailed history about the last monarchy in the Hawaiian Islands is a need to know for all locals, mainlanders and travelers. There are many original pieces in pristine condition. What I found a real jewel is Queen Lili'uokalani's quilt in the "prison" room on the second-floor. Here is the heart of the tour. There was not much enthusiasm by our tour guide about this piece but when I read on line the history and meaning of this quilt and the struggle that happen In protecting Hawaii history comes alive as revealed in the intense stitch work of this quilt. Hopefully you will get an enthusiastic tour guide that can share this. All the other support staff was present, kind and personable. Mahalo

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.

Natalie

Tear, go get educated about the Queen

Kris Jarrett

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.

Joyce Mandracken

I could feel the mana on this property. I suppose being hawaiian has a lot to do with it. And very proud to be Hawaiian. I hope to go back there again, some day.

JLP

Interesting place telling history of Hawaii. Well kept and run. Need about 1 hour.

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.

Jennifer Abel

Very informative but done in an interesting way. I'm ashamed to say I knew very little of Hawaiian history so this was a great introduction to it. I took the audio tour and appreciated being able to set my own pace, have the time for pictures, and being able to take a closer look at the beautiful items. I would take this tour again, to catch all the things I missed the first time.

Brownies AZ

Really neat tour. Did the self guided and enjoyed hearing all the history. Plan for an hour to an hour and half. For the full self guided tour. Walk around the grounds too, neat little finds and things to see.

Krysten Lenhard

Going to Iolani Palace is very educational. I learned a lot of Hawaiian history and culture of the royal family. We were given a shoe cover and headphones for a self-guided tour. There are so much to see including pieces of jewelry, artworks, dresses, and the place is very beautiful and neat.

Art Tibaldo

The Iolani Palace is a must-see and must-go destination if you happen to be in Honolulu. I've been to the place near the State capitol twice, 2006 and 2013 while I was in the island state as official representative of Baguio City and the Cordillera Region. The recent remake of the 1980s Hawaii Five-O television series reminds me of the palace and also that of King Kamehameha.

Lisa Berg

Is breathtaking and beautiful in their original koa wood I have to cover your feet protected for the elements. It definitely gives you the Grandeur of majesty all of the Hawaiian Kingdom. I am overjoyed that they have preserved such a beautiful and courageous reminder of what was.

Melissa Lawrence

Go during a major Hawaiian holiday or December, the Palace will be beautifully decorated. You can visit the grounds and watch a documentary for free but you must pay to enter. It is beautiful on the inside and has many historical artifacts. There is an audio tour and docents to answer questions.

Adrienne Anne

Beautiful, full of information, self guided tour was a great time!

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.

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!

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!!

Amy Spears Nordhausen

Historical learning experience of Hawaii royalty.

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!

Brittany Althaus

Would have been 5 stars if they had better explanations on how things work. You have to purchase your tickets at the barracks THEN you go on the tour. Finding parking is horrible!!! Once you get past all that the actual palace is beautiful, the guided tour was well worth the money. Your literally stepping through history!

kimo napolitano

Hawaiian history in full view sacred grounds "Imus mauna kea!

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.

Kristin Murphy

Mahalos to the wonderful people willing to share their history and culture with all who come this way. Very informative and GORGEOUS.

Jase Peralta

Attended a re-inactment of the overthrow of the queen. Being onsite at the actual spot where it all went down and hearing of the events being acted out was so intriguing. This urges me to read Queen Liliuoukalani's jounals and get a glimpse of her pain and heartache during this era.

Sean Pressly

Excellent tour of the palace with very knowledgeable guide! She provided so much rich history of EVERYTHING inside the palace. A definite must see when on Oahu!!!

Jonathan Thoennes

Great Hawaiian history and a beautiful palace. We got the guided tour, our guide was very informative and could answer just about any question.

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.

Kozzie Kennard

Beautiful place to visit. The record guide is very easy to follow. Wonderful learning opportunity.

Deb Jacobus

Beautiful and interesting part of Hawaiian history. A must go if you have the time. The admission is a little pricey for what you get. Not really for young children.

Robert Fletcher

What a wonderful way to explore the history of the islands.

Jacqueline Phillips

The work and effort put into making the palace so beautiful is amazing! I'm so glad I finally toured it and our docent was wonderful! She was so knowledgeable and answered every question people in our group had. I highly recommend it.

Terry T

Very interesting and well restored part of history. Good narration on audio, for self guided tour. Your can spend 90 mins there and learn a lot about the Hawaiian monarchy. It is the only palace in the USA.

Jack Tappe

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

Kainoa King

The most precious life lived was through our Kings and Queens and their spouses. What a terrible thing for our last reigning Queen to have experienced all alone. Aside form that comment. This palace is breathtaking

Scott Lindeneau

Interesting history and interesting tour. Only two hours needed. Easy to do.

vegas mama

Once there was a Kingdom in Hawaii. They have many talented guides who answer our question and give us little private stories of Royal Family. Kids friendly!

Alan Brockmeyer

Nice place to learn about Hawaii's history

Michele Freitas

An absolute must see for learning forgotten Hawaiian history. Better than I expected, but I enjoy touring historic places anyway. Tricky to find the entrance because of tiny sign and one way streets.

Sharlene Wong

The Lot Hula Festival started today and will end tomorrow. There are crafts, yummy food, and good hula. I ate at Mahoes for lunch. The kalua pig and smoked meat is so delicious. They also make a garlic shrimp is creamy and served with rice and salad. So yummy. All plates come with rice and salad. Craft booths selling shell jewelry and clothing. I purchased a lovely hat. Thank goodness because it was hot today.

Soke Miyagi

A place to learn about the history of King Kalakaua and Queen Liliuokalani

Alan Dennis

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

R. Lee Donaldson

This historic site is a must do in Hawaii. Our guide, Isaac was amazing. Iolani Palace is a living restoration of a proud Hawaiian national identity and is recognized as the spiritual and physical multicultural epicenter of Hawaii. Built in 1882 by King Kalakaua, Iolani Palace was the home of Hawaii's last reigning monarchs and served as the official royal residence and the residence of the Kingdom's political and social life until the overthrow of the monarchy in 1893. Registered as a National Historic Landmark since 1962 and the only official royal residence in the United States, the Palace is one of the most recognizable buildings in Hawaii. Meticulously restored to its former grandeur, Iolani Palace tells of a time when their Majesties, King Kalakaua and his sister and successor, Queen Liliuokalani walked the grand halls.

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!

Deidra R

Great place to learn about Hawaiian royals and history

Jeanette Ramos

I loved it. A lot people don't remember that Hawaii was a monarchy. Lets not forget how Hawaii became a state.

Patty Wienczkowski

Beautiful and very educational on the hawaiian culture.

Alan Houghton

Hawaii five-0 fan, so it's a must. Great history.

Peter Arzberger

We enjoyed visiting this palace. We learned a great deal of a slice of Hawaiian history. We did the audio tour, which was one of the best audio tours I have on.