Hawaii is not only America’s youngest state but the only one which was formerly a monarchy. While the Kingdom of Hawaii was dismantled in the late 1800s, many historic sites from the monarchy still remain, including various royal residences and places of cultural significance. Often overshadowed by the magnificent Iolani Palace, Hulihee Palace is not only gorgeous and full of history but relatively unknown as well.

Let’s travel back to the days when the Hawaiian monarchy ruled over the islands, shall we?

Located on historic Ali’i Drive in Kailua-Kona and overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Hulihee Palace is one of only three royal residences left in Hawaii, and one of the few real palaces on United States soil.
Amaury Laporte/Flickr
Built out of lava rocks, coral lime mortar, koa, and ohia timbers in 1838 by John Adams Kuakini, governor of the Island of Hawaii during the Kingdom of Hawaii, Hulihee Palace has housed countless members of the Hawaiian monarchy throughout the years, from Princess Ruth Keʻelikōlani to King Kalākaua and Queen Kapiʻolani.
J. Stephen Conn/Flickr
The palace was primarily used as a vacation home for Hawaiian royalty from King Kamehameha III to Queen Liliʻuokalani until the overthrow of the monarchy when it sat abandoned.
Joel/Flickr
By the 1920s, the palace was so overgrown that it could not be seen from the road, and the Daughters of Hawaii, a group dedicated to preserving the cultural legacy of the islands, stepped in and converted the palace into a museum in 1927 to showcase Victorian furniture and artifacts collected from the Kingdom of Hawaii.
Joel/Flickr

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You’ll find everything from ancient tools to royal garments on display inside Hulihee, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
Tatiana K/TripAdvisior
fotovision47/Flickr
The modest building isn’t necessarily what one would expect of a palace worthy of royalty. Perhaps that is why this little slice of history is so often overlooked. Hulihee is only 62 feet long and 32 feet wide with two stories and six rooms: entry hall, parlor, dining room, on the second floor there is a sitting room and two second floor bedrooms.
Amaury Laporte/Flickr
Two expansive lanais overlook the Pacific Ocean, and the grounds are absolutely swoon-worthy. We can totally see why this destination was a favorite among vacationing royalty.
bobndee24/TripAdvisor

Hulihee Palace is located at 75-5718 Alii Dr, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, and is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for kamaaina, military members, and seniors with ID, and only $1 for children aged 5 to 17. Public tours typically begin at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. One Sunday every month, you can stop by for free music performances from the Hulihee Palace Band and the Merrie Monarchs Chorale. For more information, click here.

If you’re planning to visit, make a weekend out of it: Kailua-Kona is home to several incredible attractions and is an incredible place to visit any time of year.

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