Most Americans grow up learning about European royal families, from the British monarchy to the kings and queens who shaped the history of countries like France and Spain. But what many don’t realize is that Hawaii was once its own sovereign kingdom before it become a U.S. state, and there’s still a royal palace right in O‘ahu.
During a recent visit to Honolulu’s ʻIolani Palace, I found myself standing in rooms that challenge the assumptions travelers make about Hawaii. Beyond the beaches, luaus and pineapple drinks lies the story of a nation that once had its own monarchs, government and global relationships. Walking through the palace’s grand halls—and later, the room where Queen Liliʻuokalani was imprisoned—gave me a powerful reminder that Hawaii’s royal history is far more recent and more complex than many Americans realize.
