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 'Iolani
Palace is the only royal residence located in the United
States. It was the official residence of King Kalakaua
and Queen Kapi`olani from the time of its completion in
1882 until his death in 1891. His successor, Queen
Lili`uokalani, lived in the Palace until the overthrow of
the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893.
The
site was first used as a palace in 1845 when King Kamehameha
III moved the capitol from Lahaina, Maui to Honolulu.
The location may have been chosen because it was the site
of an ancient temple. The original name was
Hale Ali`i, and was changed to `Iolani Palace following
the death of Kamehameha IV in 1863. `Iolani was one
of the king's names and means royal hawk -- the high flight
of the hawk signified royalty. The first palace was
torn down in the 1870s because of extensive termite damage.
The
cornerstone for the current palace was laid on the last
day of 1879 and was completed in 1882 at a cost of nearly
$360,000. In 1979, the U.S. Postal Service issued
a ten cent postal card featuring a stamp with a photo of
the palace, commemorating the 100th anniversary.
The
palace was used as the seat of government by the Republic
of Hawai`i, the Territory of Hawai`i and the first ten years
of statehood. Following completion of the Hawai`i
State Capitol in 1969, the palace was renovated and restored.
Sources:
A
Brief History from the Friends
of `Iolani Palace
Place
Names of Hawaii by Mary Kawena
Pukui, Samuel H. Elbert and Esther T. Mookini
`Iolani
Palace postal card issued
by the U.S. Postal Service in 1979
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to:
Island of Oahu | History
of Hawaii: Monarchy
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Friends
of
`Iolani Palace
Back of Palace
Front of Palace
The coat of arms for the
Kingdom of Hawai`i, which was used in the design of the
state seal and state
coat of arms, is placed on the gates to the palace grounds.
From the Palace
toward King St.
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