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Places, Earth |
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Throughout the country, state parks, historic sites, homes, buildings, museums, and similar institutions are struggling to continue operating. Because of general financial problems, many of these institutions are operating on a reduced schedule or in danger of closing. Some are being forced to sell off artifacts and property. Many will not weather these hard times without your help. Places Earth urges everyone to support these vital and important public resources any way you can. Please donate your treasure, time, and talent. Write to your governor and other elected officials telling them to find a way to keep state parks open. It will be your loss. Public Service Announcement | Test space for future ad if donations don't increase. |
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Iolani Palace
All photographs taken by Kenneth A. Larson. All rights reserved. © 2010 - 2012.|
The Iolani Palace in Honolulu is the only royal palace on U.S. soil and was the official residence of King Kalakaua and Queen Lili'uokalani, the last of the Hawaiian royalty. This is where Queen Lili`uokalani was held in house arrest after a failed attempt to restore her to power after outsiders
had taken control. The name for the palace came from an earlier palace that was demolished in 1874. The earlier palace was known as Hale Ali`i (House of the Chief). Kamehameha V changed its name to `Iolani Palace to honor his late brother and predecessor. `Io is Hawaiian for hawk and lani denotes heavenly, royal, or exalted. Reusing the name, King Kalakaua built the new `Iolani Palace as a symbol of Hawaiian prestige, laying the cornerstone on December 31, 1879 with full Masonic rites. It was completed in 1882 and became the center of social and political activity in the Kingdom of Hawai`i. The new palace had all the modern amenities for its day. The building had indoor plumbing, the gas lights were replaced with electric soon after the light bulb was invented, and telephone. It was a true modern palaces for a member of the world's nations. King Kalakaua was quite comfortable in western society and languages. He traveled to the U.S., attended a state dinner with President Grant, and circumnavigated the earth. He also encouraged retention of Hawaiian culture, traditions, and languages. He encouraged the transcription of Hawaiian oral traditions and revival of the Hula which the missionaries had banned. King Kalakaua was taken to San Francisco hoping for improvement to his health, but he died at the Palace Hotel on January 20, 1891 and the Hawaiian people were saddened when the ship returned not with a recovered king but his lifeless body. His sister, Queen Lili`uokalani, succeeded him and was proclaimed queen on January 29, 1891. Queen Lili`uokalani tried to strengthen the Hawaiian monarchy and limit suffrage to subjects, but this strengthened the opposition. The Committee of Safety, composed of Hawaii-born citizens of American parents, naturalized citizens, and foreign nationals, were people with business interests. The Committee and the American Minister to Hawaii removed the Queen from power and set up a provisional government. On January 17, 1893, The Queen yielded her authority with a short speech appealing to the United States to reverse the action. The US did not but a century later issued a formal apology. In 1895 an attempt was made by Hawaiian royalists to restore the queen to power, but it failed and Queen Lili`uokalani was arrested, forced to sign an abdication relinquishing all future claims, tried, and sentenced to five years of hard labor. The sentence was reduced to imprisonment in one room of the palace, which can be seen on the tour. After her release, she spent five more months under house arrest at her private residence. The palace itself was also abused, being used as government offices and most of the furnishings sold off. In 1969, government moved to the new capitol a short distance away and a careful restoration began. The palace opened as a museum in 1978. An on-going search is underway to find the furnishing and return them to their proper place and fabrics have been reproduced. The museum has appealed to the public to help locate these lost treasures and their official web site has photos of mission objects (http://www.iolanipalace.org/history/mostwanted.html). An audio-tour is provided for the two main floors including the dining room and throne room and the room where Queen Lili`uokalani was held prisoner. The lower level has several exhibits and artifacts after completing the audio tour above. The Iolani barracks is a small fort-like structure, is a few hundred feet west of the palace. This is where Iolani Palace tour tickets are sold and it also contains a few displays, small video theater, and gift shop. Photography is not allowed and cameras must be placed in bags to prevent the temptation to take pictures. Booties are worn over shoes to protect the floors. A short distance to the southwest is the Coronation Stand. Mailing Address: P.O. Box 2259 Honolulu, HI 96804 Main: 808-522-0822 Ticket: 808-522-0832 Fax: 808-532-1051 info@iolanipalace.org www.iolanipalace.org |
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This page last updated: Saturday, 20-Mar-2010 11:34:56 EDT
| Note: This is not the official site for any of the places shown in Places Earth. Places Earth is not responsible for accuracy of the information. Hours of operations, prices, exhibits, and sometimes locations are subject to change without notice. |
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This web site started because of my love for Architecture and interest in History. This web site is for your benefit and I make no profit on it. I don't allow paid advertising. This site is supported primarily from my regular paycheck as a Set Designer and there haven' been many this year. I sell art at www.klimages.com. A non-tax deductable donation to help cover the cost of operating this web site may be made to Kesign Design Consulting through PayPal ... | ||
 You can buy candles from my wife. |
 Or donations can be mailed to the address on the contact page. |
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This site maintained by Kenneth A. Larson. Copyright © 2004 - 2012, Kenneth A. Larson. All Rights Reserved. Website content including photographic and graphic images may not be redistributed for use on another website. |
| This site is a non-commercial alternative to my commercial design portfolio site. This site's only purpose is for your enjoyment. There is no advertising and I make no profit. If you are in the need of a designer, please check my commercial site www.kesigndesign.com. |
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