Most People Don’t Know These 7 Royal Residences Are Hiding In Hawaii
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Megan Shute
Author
While Hawaii may not have many castles, the island chain once operated as a monarchy. As a result, there are several locations that were once important to Hawaiian royalty, including several private residences and places of cultural significance. Many of these residences have been torn down, converted to museums, or restored.
After housing several royal families, the palace served as the executive building of the Provisional Government, the Republic, and the Territory of Hawaii after it was rebuilt due to termite damage. It has since been converted into a museum.
Located in Lahaina, and occupied by King Kamehameha III, stones were reused to construct a courthouse after the capital transferred to Honolulu.
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The summer residence of Queen Emma from 1857 to 1885. After her death, the Hawaiian Monarchial Government purchased the home and it is now used as a museum, maintained by the Daughters of Hawaii.
Once home to Keʻelikōlani, it was converted into a museum by the Daughters of Hawaii in 1927.
While many palaces and royal residencies have been converted into museums, others have been torn down. This is the site of King Kamehameha I's brick palace, in Lahaina, where he used to welcome the captains of visiting ships. I know the photo is not much, but there aren’t too many palaces and royal residencies still standing in Hawaii today.
Located in Honolulu, this home is the site where "Queen Lili'uokalani was arrested during the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom." The residence later housed 13 Hawaiian Governors before being converted into a museum.
While the castle has been gone for years, replaced by the King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel, the ʻAhuʻena heiau was reconstructed in the 1970s, and can be viewed, but not entered.
If only we could experience these royal places in their prime. I feel as though effect these places once had is largely lost after decades of restoration, or destruction.
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