@@jodaciarmani8264 She was arrested and imprisoned due to a plot against US control of Hawaii, but not until the end of her days. In October 1896, she received a full pardon and return of her civil rights. She spent time in Brookline, MA and Washington, D.C.
I lived in Hawaii for a decade and nicer people you will never meet. My heart breaks knowing that Queen Liliuokalani was imprisoned in a lower room, allegedly the basement, of her own home. She wrote Aloha Oe as a 'fairwell to thee' of old Hawaii when their sovereign nation was overthrown by the U.S. Aloha to my friends and adopted family in the islands. ❤🤙
It was the upper room, in the upper right as you look at the building from King St. They have the windows blocked and it's the room that contains the quilt she created by hand while she was imprisoned.
So it was either the US or Japan, who would had done it. The US had vital interest there and did not want the Imperialist of Japan taking it over. They would had enslaved the population if they had. That is historical fact, ask China, and Korea! The US taking it over was vital for the Hawaiian people to survive, during a time, when Japan was taking over countries with military force.
It's funny as you just posted this today as I was going to suggest it. As a former 31 year resident of Hawaii, generally the first Sunday of the month they would offer free tours. I would go several times per year. To see the building and realize everything that was done with the architecture and in relation to other royalty around the world, it was mind blowing. Above they sky light up on the third floor they have offices and do restoration work. I had the chance to go up they and they allowed us to handle (with white gloves) precious artifacts what contained gem stones. In December in honor of Queen Kapiolani, they would have night tours. The ancient light bulbs were lit and they brought the palace alive with floral displays, live Hawaiian music and period actors that gave you a sense of what the palace would have been like during an event in the late 1800's. For visitors to Hawaii I always recommended the Palace to them as the first place to visit to recognize that Hawaii was a nation that was recognized through out the world. Something not mentioned was the basement and in there is a display of Royal Orders given to King Kalakaua as he became the first monarch to circumnavigate the globe plus the first building to have telephone/electricity/indoor plumbing all in the same structure. Thank you for covering this.
Wow! This is so beautiful! And that woodwork is amazing! I do have to confess that I didn’t know anything about how Hawaii came to be part of the states. I feel bad for the Queen and her people.
I've been there. I was in the Navy and on my first Deployment we stopped in Hawaii on the way back. A friend and I asked a cab driver to rake us to the most tourist like place. He took us here. It was a cool tour.
My family was stationed on Oahu and I had the pleasure of touring this place The hand detailing is immaculate there are angel caricatures in the stucco It’s a shame how the Hawaiian aristocracy was overthrown and most of the furnishings was sold or lost too time Hawaii is a beautiful place with an abundance of culture and history
Beautiful palace in a beautiful setting! I loved my many visits to Hawaii, its people and culture and natural beauty. I enjoyed learning the history and its ties to other Pacific Islanders. The one dark shadow of my whole experience was learning about the U.S. take-over of this once sovereign country, and it remains the only time in my life that I was ashamed to be an American. 🇺🇸
Queen Kapi’olani (King Kalakaua’s wife) was not imprisoned in the place. It was the King’s Sister, Queen Lili’uokalani( the Monarch after the kings death) that was imprisoned.
My thoughts are that I regret the invasion of Hawaii by the United States. I have always believed that the United States was about freedom and Liberty since our Independence from England. That explains the terrific amount of hostility from native Hawaiians. Statehood should always be an honor and not a punishment.
Stop, just stop. We’re more than a century removed from those decisions. Those decisions were correct at that time, and there is no connection to today’s idiosyncrasies.
2:59 Ken, looking up at the incredible bifurcated staircase was my favorite part of the Palace! I’m not exaggerating, I really did gasp at it’s openness, complexity and it’s plain perfection without being over decorated.
Yessir also before Buckingham Palace, America/UK the two most "powerful" countries at the time. ʻIolani Palace also had indoor plumbing before Buckingham Palace and the White House.
The restored interiors of the Iolani Palace are even more remarkably beautiful than they appear on film. Congratulations for including the sordid history; the US government treated the Kingdom of Hawaii abominably, and it remains one of our national embarrassments and sources of shame.
The aggressive overthrow by the USA of the Sovereign Monarchy and State of Hawaii is a reputational stain on the USA that to this day and into the future will not be forgotten or forgiven by the people of the Pacific. Thank you for your honest history.
@@ErickHumboldt Yes you have a point. When you consider that all Polynesians of the North and South Pacific are the result of migration into the Pacific by the indigenous tribes of Taiwan so the native Hawaiians are historically and genetically related to the Chinese as are the Maori Samoans Tongans etc who maintain their traditionally form of Royalty
It is surely an elaborate palace... i loved the queens room, although all the rooms and architecture was awesome.. it's a shame what happened to the queen...
To be fair, it would likely have fallen to Japans imperial expansion or annexed as a Soviet colony, both of those would likely have been much worse and much more violent for both the royal family and the citizens of Hawaii, given the track record of the aforementioned.
Thanks, always enjoy your videos. My family was all born there starting in the Early 1,800's. Visted many times, a beautiful building, and of course tragic story for the Hawaiian People.
When I lived in Hawai'i I toured Iolani Palace several times. The beauty of the koa wood used all through the palace, is so rare, so elegant. My second favorite place to tour was Bishop Museum. Third was the Nu'u'anu Pali Lookout. When I toured Iolani, I pictured Princess Kai'u'lani as a child visiting her large extended family. She was so educated, so intelligent, so prepared for a kingdom she would never rule. Her first name was Victoria, to honor the queen of the UK.
@@palmtrees6228 The movie is good, however, inaccurate. Plus the choice of the actress who portrayed Kai'u'lani was a big disappointment as she is a non-Hawai'ian. Q'orianka Kilcher. She's a good actress, however, it left many people disappointed that a Hawai'ian actress was not chosen.
I was born there before it became a state, say's territory of Hawaii on my birth certificate, family migrated from Korea in the late 1800's, my grandfather was one of the original (founders) paniolo's (cowboys) on the Parker ranch (Big Island) his nick name was Red, my other grandfather served in World War I, buried at Punchbowl cemetery (Cemetery of the Pacific) for military folks, my Dad and Mom are buried right next to him........ Iolani Palace was always there downtown on KIng St. The architecture stood out from the rest of the buildings, you could tell it had some kind of significance at one time......
When the Queen was imprisoned, nearly all of her personal belongings & palace furnishings were set out on the lawn & sold like a garage sale. Some furnishings have been returned, repurchased or donated back, & when I was there in 2002, there was minimal furniture on display & little to no carpeting. I suspect, most of the furnishings on display are not original.
They have done an incredible job with recovering furniture. About a decade ago they started to create reproductions of the carpeting and some of the drapes in the palace. They didn't let people walk up the staircase when it was just wood, but since the got the carpeting up there, it's quite common to use the stairs while you are on tour.
@@frikitiki Thank you for the update! During the tour I took in 2002, we did walk up & down the wooden staircase. There were only 2 of us on the tour, plus the guide, who was very informative. I seem to remember the story about the Queen acquiring fabric to make her quilt. Her few friends that were allowed to visit her, would bring scraps for her to use. (?) Friends would also bring newspapers & books to her. The way the Queen was treated by American Government was despicable. She was eventually freed & spent a lot of time traveling the world & living with friends in Massachusetts....
@@raallen1468 It wasn't the American government. There were the local businessman that had gained power/land through the Great Mahale that forced the issue. They got backing from the US but the US was not the tip of the spear. Across the street from the Palace is Alii o Hale which contains hte supreme court of Hawaii. It also contains a law museum. They have a model that shows right behind that building was the shoreline. I always thought about ships with cannons trained on the palace as being weird based on the current harbor there could be poor accuracy but once you know that the ships were so close. less than 2 blocks away, that changes the understanding of why the queen surrendered and signed the bayonet constitution abdicating the monarchy and turning over control to the businessmen.
Many have been return, last time I went (3 years ago) my aunty who is a trustee of ʻIolani Palace had said at that time well over 90% of the palace and monarchs belongings that were sold, had bee returned. Nowadays, most likely even more had been returned.
Queen Lili'uokalani had a private residence, Washington Place, in Honolulu which had most of her personal property. In fact, it was Washington Place where the Queen was residing when the monarchy was overthrown. After her release from imprisonment in the Iolani Palace she spent the rest of her life at Washington Place; in 1921 it was purchased from her estate to serve as the executive mansion.
I’ve been to Hawaii twice. I always rent a vehicle to visit the locals wherever I travel and on Kwai I rented a Jeep. The locals heartbreak over my country’s annexing them still breaks my heart.
When you described the King's desire to build a palace to impress visiting dignitaries and heads of state, I got worried. I pictured a gaudy, over-done, and tasteless building that would be more of an embarrassment than a statement of the King's position. Boy, was I wrong. The design of this house and especially the interior treatments is, if anything, understated. Yet, at the same time, perfectly executed. The craftsmanship of the woodwork, especially, impresses me the most. It is sad that the United States forced the Kingdom of Hawaii to capitulate to our desires. This all happened long before I was born, of course, but I still think it was a travesty of justice.
The Hawaiian Monarchy gave Monarchy a good name and yet it was managed to be overthrown smh we be doing the goofiest shit sometimes as humans in general
Koa as in ironwood tree? Ironwood is quite hardy and seems to be the preferred material for fashioning staves, walking sticks and war clubs throughout the Pacific islands. 'Iolani Palace looks stunning and unique with its koa panels.
Beautiful building. Interesting history. Some proud. Some not proud. And I'm eager to learn more.. I'm beginning to respect the emotions and passions of the descendants of the Hawaiian Islands who feel the way they do about the US government
We tend to forget that the USA has a colonial past.Thanks for your excellent snippet of Hawaiian History which explains how extravagance can have disastrous consequences. Great that we still have the palace though!
Safe to argue that US colonial history isn’t over. We still have 5 territories that basically function as colonies. For decades, Puerto Rico has been requesting attention from Congress to resolve the political status but congress continues to ignore. Not to mention the residents of DC and the native reservations.
King Kalakaua's construction of the Palace was intended to demonstrate The Hawaiian Islands were a modern country equal to western nations. Hence the Palace's up to date construction methods and conveniences. Not any different than other countries, like the U.S. that built grand homes for their heads of state. In fact, Hawaiian monarchs and members of the various royal families are noted for their establishment of charitable trusts to further healthcare (Queen's Hospital, Queen Emma Trust), education, (Kamehameha Trust, the Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop Trust Kamehameha Trust), the Queen Lili'uokalani Trust supporting the education of Hawaiian children, and the King Lunaliho Trust supporting a retirement home of elderly Hawaiians. Today, all of these charitable trusts are still in existence furthering their missions.
@@timhazeltine3256Thanks for your background information on the palace as part of a process of transforming Hawaii into a modern sovereign state.A worthy initiative at the time.Sad it ended in colonisation.
My thought is that the Hawaiians definitely got shafted. That was downright invasion and takeover rule by America and it's shameful that it happened. The palace is gorgeous. I'm glad they at least preserved some furnishings and recognize it as the historical place that it is
@@rsqrinsac no, he asked and he specifically went into the historical coup d'etat, takedown and imprisonment of the royal family and the effects into the modern era. I answered that and then interjected my views on the palace as well. I'm sure he'll be fine with it. I'm not trolling.
Ya'll know that the US along with the Dole family that brought us pineapple juice 🍍 stole a sovereign country. But I still gave Kenny a 👍🏿up for the video. # Independence for Hawaii
The royal family is still present and alive. The person many believe would have been on the throne had the monarchy continued till this day HRH Abigail Kawananakoa is who passed away. But the Kawananakoa lineage is still very much alive and well in Hawaii.
The palace is beautiful, the history that surrounds the fall of the House of Kalākaua, the kidnapping of the Hawaiian peoples and annexation of their Homeland is abhorrent.
What a truly beautiful building. I am glad that it has survived. The American takeover was despicable and unnessasory. It was very unlikely that imperial Russia would have moved on Hawaii but had thy done so, they would have set up a base and probably aloud the Hawaiian monarchy to continue.
Thank you for posting this. I’ve been to Hawaii 5 times. The last time I was there was in 1982. They always told us, that even though they were annexed by the US, it could have been worse, because Russia was very Interested in acquiring Hawaii for a military base. So, they just say, thank you, for getting us first. Don Ho sang a song, back in his day called, “ This Is America.” They know they are better off being a part of America. It’s also very fitting that you post this now as Iolani Palace will be open for King Kamehameha Day, June 10th.🌺
this is very interesting to know. let's hope that the US annexing Hawaii saved the island from a worse fate... let's face it, the soviet union/russia doesn't have the best reputation with annexed territories...this begins after WW2.
Who is better off being in America? Since the illegal overthrow, Native Hawaiians make up the least educated, highest health statistics, most incarcerated, worst health, most homeless ethnic group in its own islands. Native Hawaiians at one time were the most literate country in the entire World! So what exactly are they to be thankful for? Homeless was never a concept in Old Hawaii. Everyone was fed and had a role in society. As a Kanaka myself....to say Hawaiians are better off is just absolutely untrue and disgustingly wrong on all levels.
Next to each side of his bed there are two wooden poles with a cylinder shape on the top of each of them. That is what we call "Kāhili" and it was to signify royalty. Wherever our aliʻi (monarchs) goes, two servants would walk on each side of him/her. The "cylinders" are made up of native Hawaiian bird feathers. Some of the rarest in the world. It is Hawaiian-style that when we make those, we pluck one feather per bird that is caught so that we protect the health and well-being of our birds here, especially the native ones.
@@ikaikaxkeahi If I remember correctly it's the o'o bird. It's many years since I last read 'Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen'. Cost a fortune getting it shipped from Honolulu to England.😅
@@karenblackadder1183 Indeed! How wonderful... are you from England? Our late Queen Liliʻuokalani (Sister of King Kalākaua) composed a famous Hawaiian song titled "Queenʻs Jubilee" that is sung by Hawaiian-singer Weldon Kekauoha. It talks about the beauty of England and the majesty of your late Queen Victoria. Queen Liliʻuokalani composed that song right after her, and her sister-in-law Queen Kapiʻolani (wife of King Kalākaua), visit to England for Queen Victoriaʻs golden jubilee back in the late 1880s. Aloha from Hawaiʻi!
@@ikaikaxkeahi That must have been a sight. 3 great Queens, all of whom born to rule an island race, even if they were 8,000 miles apart, sitting enjoying afternoon tea in London. I'm very busy decorating at the moment. Promise will be back in touch in a couple of days. Mahalo Karen.
4:11 this narration is a bit confusing. After King Kaloukaua's death, his wife Queen Kapi'olani retired to her estate in Wikiki. It was Kaloukaua's sister, Lili'uokalani, who became the Hawaiian kingdom's last queen regnant and lived in Iolani Palace until the overthrow and then was imprisoned there. Ali'iolani Hale was originally meant to be the royal palace, but King Kamehameha V decided to use it for the seat of government instead and commissioned the Iolani Palace to take its place.
The tourist areas of Hawaii are quite safe, but if you go inland, you will be surprised by the hostility the natives have towards Westerners. We did, after all, do what Russia is doing to Ukraine - taking over an independent kingdom.
No, actually what Russia is doing to the Ukraine is much, much worse by all accounts. At least when the US annexed Hawaii, they didn’t Bomb it and destroy everything.
The big difference is that eastern/southern Ukraine used to be historical Russian territories with Russian speakers, Hawaiin natives have nothing in common with US's white settlers or the US culture. In the case of eastern/southern Ukraine, Russian speakers are going back to Mother Russia, that is why you see no riots or disturbances in Russian held territories, they're happy to join the Russian Federation, in the case of Hawaii is a takeover of a foreign country with a hostile population that doesn't care/want to be US citizens.
Ummm..no.....all those countries around including Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union. The US & NATO wanted the break up of the Soviet Union...which was eventually done & under the agreement signed the words "not one inch to the east" meaning NATO will not expand to the east...an agreement which has been broken over and over and over....they have now reached to Russia's door step...and if allowed they will be in striking distance since the US (the majority funder of NATO) has set up millitary bases in all NATOs'territories....Nelson Mandela said it best "if there is any nation that has commited unspeakable atrocities in the world, it is the United States of America." Exhibit A. Only nation to drop an atomic bomb on a nation, yet runs to & fro accusing nations of developong weapons of mass destruction. Exhibit B Instructed by UN & NATO not to invade Iraq under false accusation of dev WOMDs (weapons of...) end result? 500,000 ppl dead & no weapons of mass...found.
@@loumcast There isn’t riots because there is currently a war going on. Ukrainians have a separate history from Russia. It isn’t home to the Rus or ethnic Russians.
@@loumcast so you are saying it is a border squirmish? Good. Bring American equipment and technology home and let Ukraine and Russia sort out their own problems like big boys...👍
This story is typical of the assumption of the American Empire. The damage has been done & it seems that it would be too late to return Hawaii to its former independent status. It would have been far more gentle for the United States to have negotiated a role as a protector of the Kingdom, leaving the island under the monarchy & their own traditions, being responsible only for defense & well-being of the people of Hawaii.
Clarification is needed here. There is a Spanish Castle in San Antonio......called this during Spanish occupation at the time...???? Could there be more?
@@facta-non-verba Take a look at your state flag. The Commonwealth of 56 countries. All of whom are free to leave if they so wish. Something the US will never allow.
Yes. The USA stole Hawaii’s freedom to protect their own interests. The people of Hawaii held a funeral for their country. The Princess went as far as pleading for help in Washington DC to stop it. Watch the movie “Princess Kaiulani” for a gentle version of the real story.
As NateDizzle312 says, “Geopolitics suck!” (2016.01.15) Tonga still has a King. Texas has some nation-state privileges. The State flag of California still identifies California as a nation. Beautiful Sweet Potato Island was briefly the Republic of Formosa politically separate from Qing China. The people of Texas are Texans; the people of Hawai’i are Hawaiians. Some people on Beautiful Sweet Potato Island are relatives of the King of Tonga. “Taiwan,” is native Siraya for, “Beautiful.”
This is a beautiful house but the Hawaiian influence is what makes it magnificent. You wouldn't see that type of influence in an "American" historic building. Too bad we were invaders.
I like the content on this channel a lot !! One very small criticism... narrator... please study voice inflection for narration. Listen to some professionals and hear the difference in how it sounds. Not trying to be negative. I really think it would make a difference if you could hear how you sound in comparison.
Ikr....i can't wait to hear when they fall as ALL great empires do. But it is a fact that none has been as wicked as them. An American professor said it right...that no doubt the US reign as a world power will end and as all previous world powers it will end through war....but his concern/worry was what the other nations would do to them. Nelson Mandela said it best "If there is any nation thay has commited unspeakable atrocities in this world, it is the United States of America."
To be frank, it's a nice mansion, though not my taste. However, it is Hawaiian cultural heritage! and I can lively imagine that Hawaiians are angry about the illegal American conquest and annexation of their Kingdom. Bit like the Crimea and Russia... So, for Hawaiians to occupy the palace in protest, is very symbolic.
@@jamescampbell9533 Um... all the money came from our own people, smart ass. It was our own monarchs, and people, who manually took outside influence, as well as our own style, and accomplished the things were sought out for. Get it right.
It is quite the controversy to consider how our dominance as a country over an island nation with a legitimate government would lead one to think twice about our desire to support democracy across the globe.
It's all quite beautiful, but the woodwork (especially the staircase) is truly magnificent.
Why was the queen arrested and imprisoned till the end of her days?
@@jodaciarmani8264 She was arrested and imprisoned due to a plot against US control of Hawaii, but not until the end of her days. In October 1896, she received a full pardon and return of her civil rights. She spent time in Brookline, MA and Washington, D.C.
Estados Unidos, a terra do roubo, da mentira e do fascismo cristão.
@@LJB103 she was arrested to plot against the country who annexed them? Damn the US just get worse the more you learn about it
@@jodaciarmani8264 because the Americans illegally seized an independent country. It remains a shameful act.
I lived in Hawaii for a decade and nicer people you will never meet. My heart breaks knowing that Queen Liliuokalani was imprisoned in a lower room, allegedly the basement, of her own home. She wrote Aloha Oe as a 'fairwell to thee' of old Hawaii when their sovereign nation was overthrown by the U.S.
Aloha to my friends and adopted family in the islands. ❤🤙
It was the upper room, in the upper right as you look at the building from King St. They have the windows blocked and it's the room that contains the quilt she created by hand while she was imprisoned.
Vast oversimplification of the situation
It was the upper room
Estados Unidos, a terra do roubo, da mentira e do fascismo cristão.
So it was either the US or Japan, who would had done it. The US had vital interest there and did not want the Imperialist of Japan taking it over. They would had enslaved the population if they had. That is historical fact, ask China, and Korea! The US taking it over was vital for the Hawaiian people to survive, during a time, when Japan was taking over countries with military force.
It's funny as you just posted this today as I was going to suggest it. As a former 31 year resident of Hawaii, generally the first Sunday of the month they would offer free tours. I would go several times per year. To see the building and realize everything that was done with the architecture and in relation to other royalty around the world, it was mind blowing. Above they sky light up on the third floor they have offices and do restoration work. I had the chance to go up they and they allowed us to handle (with white gloves) precious artifacts what contained gem stones. In December in honor of Queen Kapiolani, they would have night tours. The ancient light bulbs were lit and they brought the palace alive with floral displays, live Hawaiian music and period actors that gave you a sense of what the palace would have been like during an event in the late 1800's. For visitors to Hawaii I always recommended the Palace to them as the first place to visit to recognize that Hawaii was a nation that was recognized through out the world. Something not mentioned was the basement and in there is a display of Royal Orders given to King Kalakaua as he became the first monarch to circumnavigate the globe plus the first building to have telephone/electricity/indoor plumbing all in the same structure. Thank you for covering this.
Thank you.
Thank-you for sharing. This is really fascinating. Would love to visit one day.
Estados Unidos, a terra do roubo, da mentira e do fascismo cristão.
Lucky you!
Thank you of highlighting Hawaiian culture!
Wow! This is so beautiful! And that woodwork is amazing! I do have to confess that I didn’t know anything about how Hawaii came to be part of the states. I feel bad for the Queen and her people.
Estados Unidos, a terra do roubo, da mentira e do fascismo cristão.
I've been there. I was in the Navy and on my first Deployment we stopped in Hawaii on the way back. A friend and I asked a cab driver to rake us to the most tourist like place. He took us here. It was a cool tour.
My family was stationed on Oahu and I had the pleasure of touring this place The hand detailing is immaculate there are angel caricatures in the stucco It’s a shame how the Hawaiian aristocracy was overthrown and most of the furnishings was sold or lost too time Hawaii is a beautiful place with an abundance of culture and history
@@facta-non-verba Hawaii was a proud independent nation before it was stolen by America. It remains a shameful act.
I understand they are slowly trying to find original pieces so they can be brought back the palace. Only right.
Beautiful palace in a beautiful setting! I loved my many visits to Hawaii, its people and culture and natural beauty. I enjoyed learning the history and its ties to other Pacific Islanders. The one dark shadow of my whole experience was learning about the U.S. take-over of this once sovereign country, and it remains the only time in my life that I was ashamed to be an American. 🇺🇸
Estados Unidos, a terra do roubo, da mentira e do fascismo cristão.
Very classy without being ostentatious. Perfect.
opposite of Carnegie Mansion on 5th Avenue
Queen Kapi’olani (King Kalakaua’s wife) was not imprisoned in the place. It was the King’s Sister, Queen Lili’uokalani( the Monarch after the kings death) that was imprisoned.
Did you see the beautiful quilt? Gorgeous
My thoughts are that I regret the invasion of Hawaii by the United States. I have always believed that the United States was about freedom and Liberty since our Independence from England. That explains the terrific amount of hostility from native Hawaiians. Statehood should always be an honor and not a punishment.
Stop, just stop. We’re more than a century removed from those decisions. Those decisions were correct at that time, and there is no connection to today’s idiosyncrasies.
@@ThatIsJustCrazyTalk WRONG ~ KNOW THE HISTORY ~ THEY WERE TRICKED.
@@ThatIsJustCrazyTalkdisgusting...the decisions of those in the past still efect those in present. Blood was shed those hands wont come clean.
@@ThatIsJustCrazyTalk you picked the right handle: just crazy. Also lacking in honor.
Oh piss off. Nothing the US did was never done by everyone else. To condemn the US you would be condemning the rest of humanity.
This Palace is stunning & the staircase is spectacular!!!
Book em Danno!!! 👍👍🙂
That's the only Hawaiian I know too
2:59 Ken, looking up at the incredible bifurcated staircase was my favorite part of the Palace! I’m not exaggerating, I really did gasp at it’s openness, complexity and it’s plain perfection without being over decorated.
The staircase was going to be my comment as well. It is gorgeous.
@@oneminuteofmyday It was and still is amazing!
3 minutes ish, love that shot of the staircase. The life of royalty, walking up and down grand staircases.
It had electricity before the White House.
True.
Yessir also before Buckingham Palace, America/UK the two most "powerful" countries at the time. ʻIolani Palace also had indoor plumbing before Buckingham Palace and the White House.
Hawaii deserves freedom and sovereignity!
The restored interiors of the Iolani Palace are even more remarkably beautiful than they appear on film. Congratulations for including the sordid history; the US government treated the Kingdom of Hawaii abominably, and it remains one of our national embarrassments and sources of shame.
The aggressive overthrow by the USA of the Sovereign Monarchy and State of Hawaii is a reputational stain on the USA that to this day and into the future will not be forgotten or forgiven by the people of the Pacific. Thank you for your honest history.
😂😂 it would have been better to be invased by China you re right 😂😂😂
@@ErickHumboldt Yes you have a point. When you consider that all Polynesians of the North and South Pacific are the result of migration into the Pacific by the indigenous tribes of Taiwan so the native Hawaiians are historically and genetically related to the Chinese as are the Maori Samoans Tongans etc who maintain their traditionally form of Royalty
Lol if you think that’s the only one 😂
An independent Hawaii would have been conquered by the Japanese if not the Americans. They lucked out.
@@zico739 except Japan had to give back all its colonial possessions after WW2 so Hawaï would be independant today.
The palace is magnificent. It has a self guided tour which is great. I believe it was the first palace to have electricity and it’s own generator.
I love that you have made a video about this palace. I live in Hawaii and have visited it in person and every room is spectacular
Yikes! Drama, who knew? I've never been but if I ever go, I'm gettin' a tour! Thanks, Ken!
I toured the palace many years ago. The Throne room was the only room open for viewing. I lived in Honolulu for a short while.
Not being a US American I had no idea Hawaii became part of the US via military action, and that late in history.
You should read the history of Hawaii you will be shocked at the actions of the USA
I had no idea. Thanks for what your doing. Awesome. ❤
It is surely an elaborate palace... i loved the queens room, although all the rooms and architecture was awesome.. it's a shame what happened to the queen...
As a USA citizen, it is horrible
To be fair, it would likely have fallen to Japans imperial expansion or annexed as a Soviet colony, both of those would likely have been much worse and much more violent for both the royal family and the citizens of Hawaii, given the track record of the aforementioned.
@@sergpie there is no evidence to support this.
Very well described. You made the house come alive!
Thanks, always enjoy your videos. My family was all born there starting in the Early 1,800's. Visted many times, a beautiful building, and of course tragic story for the Hawaiian People.
When I lived in Hawai'i I toured Iolani Palace several times. The beauty of the koa wood used all through the palace, is so rare, so elegant. My second favorite place to tour was Bishop Museum. Third was the Nu'u'anu Pali Lookout.
When I toured Iolani, I pictured Princess Kai'u'lani as a child visiting her large extended family. She was so educated, so intelligent, so prepared for a kingdom she would never rule. Her first name was Victoria, to honor the queen of the UK.
I would recommend that movie that was made about her to anyone. Your comment reminded me of that movie
@@palmtrees6228 The movie is good, however, inaccurate. Plus the choice of the actress who portrayed Kai'u'lani was a big disappointment as she is a non-Hawai'ian. Q'orianka Kilcher.
She's a good actress, however, it left many people disappointed that a Hawai'ian actress was not chosen.
@@FreeSpirit47 inaccurate in what way?
I’ve been here, it’s very beautiful.
Hahaha hahaha
@@loriboufford6342 ok?
Love the bifurcated staircase
I was born there before it became a state, say's territory of Hawaii on my birth certificate, family migrated from Korea in the late 1800's, my grandfather was one of the original (founders) paniolo's (cowboys) on the Parker ranch (Big Island) his nick name was Red, my other grandfather served in World War I, buried at Punchbowl cemetery (Cemetery of the Pacific) for military folks, my Dad and Mom are buried right next to him........ Iolani Palace was always there downtown on KIng St. The architecture stood out from the rest of the buildings, you could tell it had some kind of significance at one time......
2:21 the archway is awe-inspiring with its nod to royalty.
Looks beautiful and well preserved.
Such beautiful craftsmanship!
When the Queen was imprisoned, nearly all of her personal belongings & palace furnishings were set out on the lawn & sold like a garage sale. Some furnishings have been returned, repurchased or donated back, & when I was there in 2002, there was minimal furniture on display & little to no carpeting. I suspect, most of the furnishings on display are not original.
They have done an incredible job with recovering furniture. About a decade ago they started to create reproductions of the carpeting and some of the drapes in the palace. They didn't let people walk up the staircase when it was just wood, but since the got the carpeting up there, it's quite common to use the stairs while you are on tour.
@@frikitiki Thank you for the update! During the tour I took in 2002, we did walk up & down the wooden staircase. There were only 2 of us on the tour, plus the guide, who was very informative. I seem to remember the story about the Queen acquiring fabric to make her quilt. Her few friends that were allowed to visit her, would bring scraps for her to use. (?) Friends would also bring newspapers & books to her.
The way the Queen was treated by American Government was despicable. She was eventually freed & spent a lot of time traveling the world & living with friends in Massachusetts....
@@raallen1468 It wasn't the American government. There were the local businessman that had gained power/land through the Great Mahale that forced the issue. They got backing from the US but the US was not the tip of the spear. Across the street from the Palace is Alii o Hale which contains hte supreme court of Hawaii. It also contains a law museum. They have a model that shows right behind that building was the shoreline. I always thought about ships with cannons trained on the palace as being weird based on the current harbor there could be poor accuracy but once you know that the ships were so close. less than 2 blocks away, that changes the understanding of why the queen surrendered and signed the bayonet constitution abdicating the monarchy and turning over control to the businessmen.
Many have been return, last time I went (3 years ago) my aunty who is a trustee of ʻIolani Palace had said at that time well over 90% of the palace and monarchs belongings that were sold, had bee returned. Nowadays, most likely even more had been returned.
Queen Lili'uokalani had a private residence, Washington Place, in Honolulu which had most of her personal property. In fact, it was Washington Place where the Queen was residing when the monarchy was overthrown. After her release from imprisonment in the Iolani Palace she spent the rest of her life at Washington Place; in 1921 it was purchased from her estate to serve as the executive mansion.
I knew that was Hawaii even before even clicked on the video I’ve been here
Same here! The palace is magnificent! I visited about 40 years ago.
The Gold Room is actually upstairs above the Blue Room. The main floor only has the Blue Room, State Dining Room, Stair Hall and the Throne Room.
Throne! LOL
@@heatherjones6647Grade school humor...at best
@@heatherjones6647 ...yes...there's a throne room...this is the royal palace...we were a kingdom....
thank you!
I think Hawaii should be restored as an independent Kingdom!
Absolutely!
I love it, such class....😊
I’ve been to Hawaii twice. I always rent a vehicle to visit the locals wherever I travel and on Kwai I rented a Jeep. The locals heartbreak over my country’s annexing them still breaks my heart.
One hopes for a Restoration.
LOVE TO HAVE A HOME LIKE THAT
When you described the King's desire to build a palace to impress visiting dignitaries and heads of state, I got worried. I pictured a gaudy, over-done, and tasteless building that would be more of an embarrassment than a statement of the King's position. Boy, was I wrong. The design of this house and especially the interior treatments is, if anything, understated. Yet, at the same time, perfectly executed. The craftsmanship of the woodwork, especially, impresses me the most.
It is sad that the United States forced the Kingdom of Hawaii to capitulate to our desires. This all happened long before I was born, of course, but I still think it was a travesty of justice.
The Hawaiian Monarchy gave Monarchy a good name and yet it was managed to be overthrown smh we be doing the goofiest shit sometimes as humans in general
Koa as in ironwood tree? Ironwood is quite hardy and seems to be the preferred material for fashioning staves, walking sticks and war clubs throughout the Pacific islands. 'Iolani Palace looks stunning and unique with its koa panels.
I have been to Iolani Palace it is stunning
High ceilings keep rooms cooler naturally.
Beautiful building. Interesting history. Some proud. Some not proud. And I'm eager to learn more.. I'm beginning to respect the emotions and passions of the descendants of the Hawaiian Islands who feel the way they do about the US government
Hawaii should be given independence
Hawaiian royals had an extremely good relationship with the UK 🇬🇧
We tend to forget that the USA has a colonial past.Thanks for your excellent snippet of Hawaiian History which explains how extravagance can have disastrous consequences.
Great that we still have the palace though!
Estados Unidos, a terra do roubo, da mentira e do fascismo cristão.
Safe to argue that US colonial history isn’t over. We still have 5 territories that basically function as colonies. For decades, Puerto Rico has been requesting attention from Congress to resolve the political status but congress continues to ignore. Not to mention the residents of DC and the native reservations.
King Kalakaua's construction of the Palace was intended to demonstrate The Hawaiian Islands were a modern country equal to western nations. Hence the Palace's up to date construction methods and conveniences. Not any different than other countries, like the U.S. that built grand homes for their heads of state. In fact, Hawaiian monarchs and members of the various royal families are noted for their establishment of charitable trusts to further healthcare (Queen's Hospital, Queen Emma Trust), education, (Kamehameha Trust, the Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop Trust Kamehameha Trust), the Queen Lili'uokalani Trust supporting the education of Hawaiian children, and the King Lunaliho Trust supporting a retirement home of elderly Hawaiians. Today, all of these charitable trusts are still in existence furthering their missions.
@@timhazeltine3256Thanks for your background information on the palace as part of a process of transforming Hawaii into a modern sovereign state.A worthy initiative at the time.Sad it ended in colonisation.
@@timhazeltine3256 That's why constitutional monarchies are far superior to self serving presidents. Our institutions serve the people.
3:00 the plaster moulding’s intricacy looks like an elaborately designed wedding cake.
I pisses me off that this government in the name of democracy did that to the queen. But the house they left here in the USA is awesome ❤
My thought is that the Hawaiians definitely got shafted. That was downright invasion and takeover rule by America and it's shameful that it happened.
The palace is gorgeous. I'm glad they at least preserved some furnishings and recognize it as the historical place that it is
I always wondered why the local government approved all of it.
They would have failed as an independent country. Most likely been taken by the Japanese via a war
@@Steven-wm9vuUS govt pretty much blackmailed them. It was disgraceful.
@@rsqrinsac no, he asked and he specifically went into the historical coup d'etat, takedown and imprisonment of the royal family and the effects into the modern era. I answered that and then interjected my views on the palace as well. I'm sure he'll be fine with it. I'm not trolling.
@@rsqrinsacdefinitely is the place, there's never a wrong time to do the right thing.
Ya'll know that the US along with the Dole family that brought us pineapple juice 🍍 stole a sovereign country. But I still gave Kenny a 👍🏿up for the video. # Independence for Hawaii
The last remaining member of the royal family died last year . She was in her 90's.
The royal family is still present and alive. The person many believe would have been on the throne had the monarchy continued till this day HRH Abigail Kawananakoa is who passed away. But the Kawananakoa lineage is still very much alive and well in Hawaii.
To subjugate any
Being by force is
The opposite of love
And compassion
The palace is beautiful, the history that surrounds the fall of the House of Kalākaua, the kidnapping of the Hawaiian peoples and annexation of their Homeland is abhorrent.
What a truly beautiful building. I am glad that it has survived.
The American takeover was despicable and unnessasory. It was very unlikely that imperial Russia would have moved on Hawaii but had thy done so, they would have set up a base and probably aloud the Hawaiian monarchy to continue.
They would have purged any classes above those that would’ve been working class.
Thank you for posting this. I’ve been to Hawaii 5 times. The last time I was there was in 1982. They always told us, that even though they were annexed by the US, it could have been worse, because Russia was very Interested in acquiring Hawaii for a military base. So, they just say, thank you, for getting us first. Don Ho sang a song, back in his day called, “ This Is America.” They know they are better off being a part of America. It’s also very fitting that you post this now as Iolani Palace will be open for King Kamehameha Day, June 10th.🌺
this is very interesting to know. let's hope that the US annexing Hawaii saved the island from a worse fate... let's face it, the soviet union/russia doesn't have the best reputation with annexed territories...this begins after WW2.
Who is better off being in America? Since the illegal overthrow, Native Hawaiians make up the least educated, highest health statistics, most incarcerated, worst health, most homeless ethnic group in its own islands. Native Hawaiians at one time were the most literate country in the entire World! So what exactly are they to be thankful for? Homeless was never a concept in Old Hawaii. Everyone was fed and had a role in society. As a Kanaka myself....to say Hawaiians are better off is just absolutely untrue and disgustingly wrong on all levels.
Couldn't america just help Hawaii keep their island did they need to control it.
I love the king's room. Probably because it is blue, my favorite color.
Next to each side of his bed there are two wooden poles with a cylinder shape on the top of each of them. That is what we call "Kāhili" and it was to signify royalty. Wherever our aliʻi (monarchs) goes, two servants would walk on each side of him/her. The "cylinders" are made up of native Hawaiian bird feathers. Some of the rarest in the world. It is Hawaiian-style that when we make those, we pluck one feather per bird that is caught so that we protect the health and well-being of our birds here, especially the native ones.
@@ikaikaxkeahi If I remember correctly it's the o'o bird. It's many years since I last read 'Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen'. Cost a fortune getting it shipped from Honolulu to England.😅
@@karenblackadder1183 Indeed! How wonderful... are you from England? Our late Queen Liliʻuokalani (Sister of King Kalākaua) composed a famous Hawaiian song titled "Queenʻs Jubilee" that is sung by Hawaiian-singer Weldon Kekauoha. It talks about the beauty of England and the majesty of your late Queen Victoria. Queen Liliʻuokalani composed that song right after her, and her sister-in-law Queen Kapiʻolani (wife of King Kalākaua), visit to England for Queen Victoriaʻs golden jubilee back in the late 1880s. Aloha from Hawaiʻi!
@@ikaikaxkeahi That must have been a sight. 3 great Queens, all of whom born to rule an island race, even if they were 8,000 miles apart, sitting enjoying afternoon tea in London.
I'm very busy decorating at the moment. Promise will be back in touch in a couple of days.
Mahalo
Karen.
I’ve been there and enjoyed the tour very much..
Thank you for this. There is the summer palace.. Which is a modest but beautiful house in Nu'uanu.
4:11 this narration is a bit confusing. After King Kaloukaua's death, his wife Queen Kapi'olani retired to her estate in Wikiki. It was Kaloukaua's sister, Lili'uokalani, who became the Hawaiian kingdom's last queen regnant and lived in Iolani Palace until the overthrow and then was imprisoned there.
Ali'iolani Hale was originally meant to be the royal palace, but King Kamehameha V decided to use it for the seat of government instead and commissioned the Iolani Palace to take its place.
Its beautiful
The tourist areas of Hawaii are quite safe, but if you go inland, you will be surprised by the hostility the natives have towards Westerners. We did, after all, do what Russia is doing to Ukraine - taking over an independent kingdom.
No, actually what Russia is doing to the Ukraine is much, much worse by all accounts. At least when the US annexed Hawaii, they didn’t Bomb it and destroy everything.
The big difference is that eastern/southern Ukraine used to be historical Russian territories with Russian speakers, Hawaiin natives have nothing in common with US's white settlers or the US culture. In the case of eastern/southern Ukraine, Russian speakers are going back to Mother Russia, that is why you see no riots or disturbances in Russian held territories, they're happy to join the Russian Federation, in the case of Hawaii is a takeover of a foreign country with a hostile population that doesn't care/want to be US citizens.
Ummm..no.....all those countries around including Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union. The US & NATO wanted the break up of the Soviet Union...which was eventually done & under the agreement signed the words "not one inch to the east" meaning NATO will not expand to the east...an agreement which has been broken over and over and over....they have now reached to Russia's door step...and if allowed they will be in striking distance since the US (the majority funder of NATO) has set up millitary bases in all NATOs'territories....Nelson Mandela said it best "if there is any nation that has commited unspeakable atrocities in the world, it is the United States of America." Exhibit A. Only nation to drop an atomic bomb on a nation, yet runs to & fro accusing nations of developong weapons of mass destruction. Exhibit B Instructed by UN & NATO not to invade Iraq under false accusation of dev WOMDs (weapons of...) end result? 500,000 ppl dead & no weapons of mass...found.
@@loumcast There isn’t riots because there is currently a war going on.
Ukrainians have a separate history from Russia. It isn’t home to the Rus or ethnic Russians.
@@loumcast so you are saying it is a border squirmish? Good. Bring American equipment and technology home and let Ukraine and Russia sort out their own problems like big boys...👍
ang ganda ng palace nmn
This story is typical of the assumption of the American Empire. The damage has been done & it seems that it would be too late to return Hawaii to its former independent status. It would have been far more gentle for the United States to have negotiated a role as a protector of the Kingdom, leaving the island under the monarchy & their own traditions, being responsible only for defense & well-being of the people of Hawaii.
It's not too late to return independence to the people of Hawaii.
3:28 Look at that table in the forefront of the image!! It looks like it has lace around the top made from wood or iron.
Beautiful house! Hawaii was definitely stolen.
I didn't tour it when I was there but did tour the whole island
One of my biggest regrets for my Oahu trip was not scheduling a day at the palace.
Clarification is needed here. There is a Spanish Castle in San Antonio......called this during Spanish occupation at the time...???? Could there be more?
Hopefully one day Iolani palace will once again be the residents of the rightful rulers of Hawai’i.
Hopeful wish. I highly doubt it. The U.S. wouldn't want that for their special interests.
You would always be welcome in the Commonwealth.
@@facta-non-verba Take a look at your state flag. The Commonwealth of 56 countries. All of whom are free to leave if they so wish. Something the US will never allow.
Yes. The USA stole Hawaii’s freedom to protect their own interests. The people of Hawaii held a funeral for their country. The Princess went as far as pleading for help in Washington DC to stop it.
Watch the movie “Princess Kaiulani” for a gentle version of the real story.
The Iolani palace had electric lights before the White House did.
👍
HI Ken.
Did you know that the Hawaiian Islands were Annexed and therefore not legally recognized as part to theUS???
like Russia and the Crimea
FREE HAWAI'I!
As NateDizzle312 says, “Geopolitics suck!” (2016.01.15) Tonga still has a King. Texas has some nation-state privileges. The State flag of California still identifies California as a nation. Beautiful Sweet Potato Island was briefly the Republic of Formosa politically separate from Qing China. The people of Texas are Texans; the people of Hawai’i are Hawaiians. Some people on Beautiful Sweet Potato Island are relatives of the King of Tonga. “Taiwan,” is native Siraya for, “Beautiful.”
This is a beautiful house but the Hawaiian influence is what makes it magnificent. You wouldn't see that type of influence in an "American" historic building. Too bad we were invaders.
I file this in the same category as what was happening to Native Americans at a similar time.
I like the content on this channel a lot !! One very small criticism... narrator... please study voice inflection for narration. Listen to some professionals and hear the difference in how it sounds. Not trying to be negative. I really think it would make a difference if you could hear how you sound in comparison.
USA never minding their own business, or just making others countries' busniness the business of the USA.
Ikr....i can't wait to hear when they fall as ALL great empires do. But it is a fact that none has been as wicked as them. An American professor said it right...that no doubt the US reign as a world power will end and as all previous world powers it will end through war....but his concern/worry was what the other nations would do to them. Nelson Mandela said it best "If there is any nation thay has commited unspeakable atrocities in this world, it is the United States of America."
If you're in, it's forevermore, Union, fought a war to settle that question. Dining room.
I wish Hawaii could break free from america and regain its independence
There is another palace in the U.S., Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee! RIP King
The real king David lol lmbo lol 🔥🔥🔥
Give these people their land back.
Increíble ! No sabía de este episodio negro de la historia de hawaii obligados a ser parte de EEUU! Y luego Estados Unidos critica a otras naciones !
This makes me very sorry for true Hawaiian people.
e
Hawaii should be granted its independence from an oppressor like US regime.... Or gain autonomous region
I can see why he changed it, the original in the photo just looks like an ordinary house.
That's too bad, something more traditional adhering to Hawaiian culture would have been better
Technically the Carol house in Baltimore and the governors house in Williamsburg are both royal residences too… just saying
What about the governor's palace in saint Williamsburg Virginia?
To be frank, it's a nice mansion, though not my taste. However, it is Hawaiian cultural heritage! and I can lively imagine that Hawaiians are angry about the illegal American conquest and annexation of their Kingdom. Bit like the Crimea and Russia... So, for Hawaiians to occupy the palace in protest, is very symbolic.
Where do think the money came from that built that house? They all lived in grass huts until the white man arrived.
@@jamescampbell9533 Um... all the money came from our own people, smart ass. It was our own monarchs, and people, who manually took outside influence, as well as our own style, and accomplished the things were sought out for. Get it right.
Isnt Steve McGarrets office in there?
So when did Hawaii stop being a kingdom?
It is quite the controversy to consider how our dominance as a country over an island nation with a legitimate government would lead one to think twice about our desire to support democracy across the globe.