- MilwVon
- First Reviewer
- 3 out of 5
- Avg. Member Rating
- 4
- Reviews
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10
- Photos
Go Back in Time at the Hulihe'e Palace
- September 27, 2008
- Rated 3 of 5 by
golden101 from Honokaa, Hawaii
The Hulihe'e Palace was built in 1838 by Governor John Adams Kuakini as his principal residence. After his death in 1844, the Palace passed to his adopted son, William Pitt Leleiohoku. After he died, the Palace was passed on to his wife, Princes Ruth 'Luka 'Ke'elikolani. The Princess was a very large woman so she used the palace primarily for entertaining guests and it is said that she preferred sleeping outside in a large grass house she had constructed on the grounds. The palace was originally built of native lava rock, coral lime mortar, and ohia and koa timbers. In 1884, King Kalakaua bought the palace and it was remodeled and furnished with massive koa wood pieces. The Kuakini room contains many delicate and precious heirlooms from pre-contact and post-contact Hawaii. The palace was used as a vacation spot for Hawaiian royalty until 1916 when it was sold and all its contents auctioned off. In 1925 it was purchased by the Territory of Hawaii and leased to the Daughters of Hawaii who tracked down many of the original pieces of furniture and convinced the owners to return the items for display. Most of the furnishings were originally in the Palace during the Monarchy. Hulihe'e Palace was placed on the National Register of Historic Sites in 1973. The Palace is open daily from 9am to 4pm. The Palace grounds are used for monthly concerts. Admission is $5 for adults and $1 for children. I would recommend coming to this Palace to learn about the history of the Hawaiian monarchy and the history of the Hawaiian people. If you are lucky you might be able to see a free show of a hula halau dancing in front of the palace.
From journal Sights and Shops to Visit on the Big Island
Hulihe'e Palace
- July 29, 2007
- Rated 3 of 5 by
azsunluvr from Mesa, Arizona
Built in 1838, Hulihe'e Palace was originally built for Governor John Adams Kuakini. It eventually became a royal retreat for Hawaii's monarchs.
The home is built of lava rock and timber from local trees. A visit to the palace is an interesting look into Hawaii's royal past.
The October 2006 earthquake damaged much of the palace and we were only allowed to view a small portion of the downstairs part of the palace. The entire upstairs was closed for repairs. We were able to view a video of the history of the palace and see a few artifacts that had been brought from other rooms. Even in the room we were in, earthquake damage was very evident.
From journal 11 Day Hawaii Vacation--Maui and the Big Island
Summer Palace of Hawaii's Royal's
- March 30, 2007
- Rated 5 of 5 by
allout_hayn from Kahana Valley, Hawaii
It was walking into the elegant past of Hawaii's Royal estates. There were artifacts over a hundred years old. It shows how civilized Hawaiians were. It shows the strong and deep impact traditions and family had on the culture.
From journal Chillax'in on the Big Island
Hulihe'e Palace
- April 21, 2006
- Rated 4 of 5 by
MilwVon from Milwaukee, Wisconsin
This is a two story landmark right on the oceanfront in downtown Kailua-Kona. Hulihe'e Palace was built in the 1830s out of stone by the second governor of the island of Hawaii. The backside of the palace faces the ocean and has two beautiful lanais. Throughout the building you will find original Kona furniture and historical photographs tracing the history of this old structure.
While there has been a significant amount of renovation done in the past, you can get a real feel for the significance of the building and people of the times by taking the guided tour.
From journal Kona One More Time - Spring Break!