`Iolani Palace was opened to the public in 1978, once original restoration of the building was completed. Today it is one of the major attractions of tourists visiting Oahu. Located in downtown Honolulu next door to the capitol building, it is the focal point of the city as well as a central part of Hawaiian history.
The Palace is open for tours every Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The tours start every half hour, and last about 90 minutes, taking you through the entire history of the palace, from its construction in 1881 to its continued restoration process to this day. On Fridays between noon and 1:00 PM there are also free concerts by the Royal Hawaiian Band.
In December of 2003, restoration was finished on one of the major artifacts of the monarchy period, a desk belonging to Queen Lili’uokalani and was put on display for the first time, showing how the restoration process continues to move forward.
`Iolani Palace is a place of great beauty and history. Any trip to Hawai’i should include a visit to its hallowed halls. It is an experience unlike any other, one of a kind not only in the United States but also in the entire world.