Karen D.
Yelp
Having visiting friends and family is a great excuse to take a field trip, and Queen Emma Summer Palace is definitely worth visiting. It provides an intimate look at the royal Hawaiian family, bringing alive their life stories. The docents do a terrific job explaining the history, cultural significance of artifacts in the museum, and bringing alive the life stories of Hawai'i's monarchs. At the back of the palace is a small but excellent gift shop with local art and craftwork. It took us about two hours to complete our tour of the palace, gift shop, and grounds. I would suggest this tour for adults and older children who enjoy history.
Hanaiakamalama (The Southern Cross), or Queen Emma Summer Palace, served as a summer retreat for Queen Emma of Hawaii from 1857 to 1885, as well as for her husband King Kamehameha IV, and their son, Prince Albert Edward. It is a now a historic landmark, museum, and tourist site preserved by the Daughters of Hawai'i. Hanaiakamalama was the "mountain" home of Queen Emma, inherited from her uncle, John Young II (son of the famous advisor to Kamehameha I, John Young I). Queen Emma used the home as a retreat where she could escape from the oppressive heat of Honolulu into the coolness of Nu'uanu.
The Queen Emma Summer Palace was acquired by the Daughters of Hawai'i in 1915, narrowly avoiding the demolition of the house and construction of a baseball field on the grounds. The Territorial Government granted the Daughters the use of the home and 22,750 square feet of the grounds as long as the home was used and maintained as a museum. (The Daughters of Hawai'i was founded in 1903 by seven women who were daughters of American Protestant missionaries born in Hawai'i, citizens of the Hawaiian Kingdom before annexation, and foresaw the inevitable loss of much of the Hawaiian culture. They founded the organization "to perpetuate the memory and spirit of old Hawai'i and of historic facts, and to preserve the nomenclature and correct pronunciation of the Hawaiian language.")
There are a number of worthwhile events held at the palace annually, including the annual Hawaiian book sale, a festival, and Christmas tea. You can view the events calendar and get lots more info on the palace at http://daughtersofhawaii.org/2011/01/27/queen-emma-summer-palace/.
Admission to the Palace is just $6 for adults, $1 for children, and $4 for kama'aina. The palace is open seven days a week, 9 AM to 4 PM, with the exception of major holidays. To arrange a group tour, call 808.595.3167.
Yelp 365 Challenge #141/365