Huliheʻe Palace

Huliheʻe Palace
Name	Huliheʻe Palace
Location	Kailua-Kona, Hawaii County, Hawaii
Built	1838
Architecture	Hawaiian, Victorian, Mission Revival
Governing body	Friends of ʻIolani Palace?
Designation	National Register of Historic Places

Huliheʻe Palace is a historic 19th-century royal residence located in Kailua-Kona on the island of Hawaii (island), associated with the Kingdom of Hawaii monarchy, the House of Kamehameha, and Hawaiian aliʻi such as Kamehameha III, Kamehameha IV, and Queen Liliʻuokalani. The property has served roles linked to figures including John Young family members, the British consul Richard Charlton, and American missionaries like Hiram Bingham I, intersecting with events such as the Paulet Affair and the broader contact era between United Kingdom and United States interests in the Pacific.

History

The site was established during the reign of Kamehameha III and is connected to estates and land tenure practices after the Great Mahele and the tenure of notable Hawaiian chiefs such as John Young (Olohana) and Isaac Davis. Early construction in 1838 reflects interactions with foreign residents including William Little Lee, Gerrit P. Judd, and Reverend Samuel Ruggles, as well as maritime visitors like James Cook's later-era voyagers and captains associated with the Pacific Wharf trade. The palace figured in royal itineraries alongside royal residences such as ʻIolani Palace, Hānaiakamalama (Queen Emma Summer Palace), and Pūʻū o Hōkūʻā (Royal Mausoleum), and was a venue during political episodes involving Gerrit P. Judd and diplomatic incidents tied to France–Hawaii relations and United States–Hawaii relations. Ownership transitions involved members of the Keʻelikōlani family and Hawaii County authorities, reflecting shifts after the Overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom and the Annexation of Hawaii.

Architecture and grounds

The structure exhibits elements of vernacular Hawaiian architecture blended with Victorian architecture, Carpenter Gothic, and later Mission Revival architecture influences introduced during renovations tied to the era of King Kalākaua and Queen Liliʻuokalani. Exterior features include a porte-cochère and verandahs comparable to those at ʻIolani Palace and Washington Place, and interior timberwork reflects native Hawaiian woods historically used by craftsmen such as Kaʻiana-era builders and later cabinetmakers linked to John Tamatoa Baker. Landscape elements echo nineteenth-century Hawaiian planting traditions with species associated with Pacific trade like breadfruit introduced during contact by captains similar to William Bligh and gardens reminiscent of those at Hānaiakamalama. The palace sits near coastal lava fields and coral shorelines characteristic of western Kona District topography, adjacent to landmarks including Kamakahonu and the harbor spaces frequented by whalers from ports such as New Bedford.

Use as royal residence and government venue

As a royal residence the palace hosted members of the House of Kamehameha and visiting dignitaries including agents from the British Empire, representatives of the United States, and Pacific leaders from islands like Samoa and Tahiti. The building was used for social functions akin to assemblies at ʻIolani Palace and ceremonies that paralleled events overseen by monarchs such as Kamehameha IV and Kamehameha V, with musical patronage recalling connections to King Kalākaua’s corollary promotion of Hawaiian music linked to musicians like Helen Desha Beamer and hula practitioners associated with royal courts. The site also accommodated political discussions relevant to treaties and negotiations involving figures like John Adams Cummins, Antone Rosa, and visiting consuls including Richard Charlton.

Restoration and preservation

Preservation efforts have involved local and national actors including Hawaii state government entities, county agencies in Hawaii County, and community organizations inspired by heritage groups similar to Friends of ʻIolani Palace and nonprofit stewards who work with the National Park Service and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Restoration projects addressed period-appropriate paint schemes, structural stabilization techniques advocated by preservationists trained at institutions such as University of Hawaii at Manoa and professional conservators experienced with timber reclamation used on sites like Iolani Barracks. The palace’s listing on registers including the National Register of Historic Places and recognition by cultural bodies helped secure funding through grants akin to those from the National Endowment for the Humanities and state preservation programs, and engaged historians specializing in Hawaiian monarchy studies such as scholars affiliated with Bishop Museum and Hawaiian Historical Society.

Collections and exhibits

The museum collection contains period furnishings, royal regalia analogs, and artifacts associated with aliʻi households, including pieces evocative of inventories cataloged during the Provisional Government of Hawaii and items similar to holdings at ʻIolani Palace Museum and Bishop Museum. Exhibits highlight material culture tied to figures like Queen Emma, Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, and Kamehameha lineage artifacts, alongside documentary displays referencing the Great Mahele, missionary correspondences by Hiram Bingham I, and cartographic materials showing 19th-century Hawaiian land divisions connected to surveyors such as Charles Wilkes and Kingdom of Hawaii cartography. Rotating exhibits have featured kapa textiles, featherwork reflective of royal ʻahuʻula traditions, and musical instruments comparable to those collected by ethnomusicologists from Smithsonian Institution archives.

Visiting information

The palace is located in downtown Kailua-Kona near Aliʻi Drive and public sites like Ahuena Heiau and the Kamakahonu Beach Park. Visitors typically access the museum through guided tours scheduled seasonally; operations coordinate with county tourism offices and cultural programs promoted by organizations similar to Hawaii Tourism Authority and local chambers of commerce. Hours, admission fees, and special event bookings for ceremonies or educational programs are managed by the site’s stewardship body and align with preservation guidelines promoted by professional bodies such as the National Trust for Historic Preservation and state cultural agencies.

Category:Historic houses in Hawaii Category:Royal residences in Hawaii Category:Buildings and structures in Hawaii County, Hawaii