We visited Iolani Palace when my mother and sister were here but Ben and Kerry didn't get to see it that time. We went again last week and they got the chance to see the inside of the Hawaiian Royal Palace.
The first time we went, we took a guided tour with a docent. This time we got the "Hawaiian Talking Leis" which is like a tape recorder that you hold to one ear as you walk from room to room. Although we got more detailed information from the recording, I liked taking the guided tour better.
And this time, I remembered to buy postcards of the inside of the palace since we can't take pictures in there.
This is the throne room where King David Kalakaua and his wife Queen Kapiolani held formal audiences, diplomatic receptions, and state balls. This is also where the trial of Queen Lili'uokalani was held when she was overthrown by the Republic of Hawaii.
This is the entrance hall and the grand staircase. I like this room because there are gifts and paintings from other monarchs on the walls. One noble from France gave them a larger-than-life painting of himself (head to toe no less), and they've got it hung on the wall like he was family.
Last but not least, here is the royal dining room. The king's chair is a little taller than the others, but notice how he sat in the middle of the table rather than at the head. This was so he could more easily talk with everyone who was visiting. When you live on an island, visitors bring news from the rest of the world, and is very important to be able to hear and speak to everyone rather than having to say, "What was that fellow from France talking about? I couldn't hear him."
"He said he's brought you a twelve foot tall painting of himself as a gift."
"Oh. Lucky me."
The first time we went, we took a guided tour with a docent. This time we got the "Hawaiian Talking Leis" which is like a tape recorder that you hold to one ear as you walk from room to room. Although we got more detailed information from the recording, I liked taking the guided tour better.
And this time, I remembered to buy postcards of the inside of the palace since we can't take pictures in there.
This is the throne room where King David Kalakaua and his wife Queen Kapiolani held formal audiences, diplomatic receptions, and state balls. This is also where the trial of Queen Lili'uokalani was held when she was overthrown by the Republic of Hawaii.
This is the entrance hall and the grand staircase. I like this room because there are gifts and paintings from other monarchs on the walls. One noble from France gave them a larger-than-life painting of himself (head to toe no less), and they've got it hung on the wall like he was family. 
Last but not least, here is the royal dining room. The king's chair is a little taller than the others, but notice how he sat in the middle of the table rather than at the head. This was so he could more easily talk with everyone who was visiting. When you live on an island, visitors bring news from the rest of the world, and is very important to be able to hear and speak to everyone rather than having to say, "What was that fellow from France talking about? I couldn't hear him.""He said he's brought you a twelve foot tall painting of himself as a gift."
"Oh. Lucky me."
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