The United States is known for being a democracy. But in fact, there is one royal residence here: ‘Iolani Palace in Hawaii.
Located in Honolulu, ‘Iolani was built in 1882 by King Kalakaua. The palace was lavish and ornate, and included state of the art technology – such as electric lighting, which even the White House didn’t have at the time!
In 1893, the monarchy was overthrown. The islands became a US territory several years later, at which time ‘Iolani was converted to the capitol building for the new government. During World War II, the palace served as a military headquarters.
When Hawaii became the 50th US state in 1959, the palace was resorted and later converted into a museum. Today, visitors can tour the building and learn about Hawaii’s rich history.
You can visit here on a comprehensive tour from our travel partner, Classic Vacations. On this tour, you’ll also visit Pearl Harbor, Punchbowl Cemetery, the USS Arizona Memorial, and more with the help of an expert guide. Ask your Stellar Travel advisor for more information.
Photo Credit: Thomas Tunsch
