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Iolani Palace is situated in the capitol district of downtown Honolulu in the U.S. state of Hawaii. It is the only royal palace used as an official residence by a reigning monarch in the United States and is a National Historic Landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Two monarchs governed from Iolani Palace: King David Kalakaua and Queen Liliuokalani.
Royal Palace
The Iolani Palace structure that exists today is actually the second Iolani Palace to sit on the palace grounds. The original palace, built during the reign of Kamehameha IV, was a one-story building made out of coral block. The building was named, "Iolani Palace," after one of Kamehameha IV's given names (his full name was Alexander Liholiho Iolani). It served as the official residence of the monarch during the reigns of Kamehameha IV, Kamehameha V, Lunalilo, and the first part of Kalakaua's reign. The original structure was very simple in design and was more of a stately home than a palace.
King Kamehameha V was the first monarch to envision a royal palace befitting of the sovereignty of a modern state such as Hawai'i. He commissioned the construction of Aliiolani Hale to be the official palace of the Hawaiian monarchy. The building was constructed across the street from the original Iolani Palace structure. At the time, Hawaii sorely needed a government building, since the government buildings of the time were small and cramped. Ultimately, Aliiolani Hale became an administrative building instead of a palace, housing the judiciary of the Kingdom of Hawaii and various other ministries.
By the time David Kalakaua assumed the throne, the original Iolani Palace was in poor condition, suffering from ground termite damage. He ordered the palace to be razed.
Kalakaua was the first monarch to travel around the world. While visiting other sovereign states of the world, he took note of the grand palaces owned by other monarchs. Like Kamehameha V, he dreamt of a royal palace befitting of the sovereignty of a modern state such as Hawaii. He commissioned the construction a new Iolani Palace, directly across the street from Aliiolani Hale, to become the official palace of the Hawaiian monarchy. The building was completed in 1882 and served as the official residence of the Hawaiian monarch until the monarchy was overthrown in 1893.
Capitol Building
Upon the overthrow of the monarchy by the Committee of Safety in 1893, Iolani Palace was converted into the statehouse of the newly formed Provisional Government of Hawaii. It later became the capitol of the Republic of Hawaii, Territory of Hawaii and State of Hawaii and housed the offices of their respective governors and legislatures.
Restoration
Then Governor of Hawaii, John A. Burns, oversaw the construction of the Hawaii State Capitol directly behind Iolani Palace. When the new capitol building was completed in 1969, Governor Burns decided to vacate all government offices from Iolani Palace and undertake an ambitious restoration project. He envisioned the return of Iolani Palace to the people of Hawaii in memory of the beloved royal family that had resided in it decades before. When restoration was completed, Iolani Palace was opened to the public in 1978 for tours and special events.
Trivia
The fictional TV series, Hawaii Five-O, had state police headquarters based in Iolani Palace.
Iolani Palace features architecture seen nowhere else in the world. This unique style is known as American Florentine.
See also
Resources
Legislative buildings | Museums in Hawaii | Palaces in Hawaii | Registered Historic Places in Hawaii | National Historic Landmarks of the United States | Official residences in the United States
"ʻIolani Palace"