Queen Emma Summer Palace

Step back in time by visiting Queen Emma Summer Palace
I lived in Kailua for 5 years, and now we have a vacation rental condo in Waikiki, so I have driven past the Queen Emma Summer Palace on the Pali Hwy probably hundreds, if not thousands, of times. However, I had never visited this historic place. Finally, one rainy day, we decided to stop by and check it out.
The Queen Emma Summer Palace is where Queen Emma and her family stayed to escape the heat of Honolulu in the summer time. We were greeted by a friendly docent wearing a muumuu and paid our entrance fee to take a self-​guided tour. There were several other visitors at the time, but the docent, who turned out to be extremely knowledgeable, checked in on us as we wandered around the house and gave us an excellent account of the history, the royal family, etc. She knew a lot and said some very long Hawaiian names with ease. We were impressed. The house has about six rooms and the Daughters of Hawai’i managed to acquire the property and then began acquiring and preserving as many possessions of Queen Emma’s family as they could. The house is fully furnished, is very beautiful with the furniture of the day, and is like looking back in time.
I’m really glad that we visited Queen Emma’s Summer Palace and can recommend it to others, whether kama’aina or malihini, as it’s an important piece of Hawaiian history. However, I feel that the Iolani Palace and the Bishop Museum were bigger and more interesting. If you’re a history or antique buff, I think that you would especially enjoy visiting all three places.

This royal and elegant summer palace of Queen Emma is tucked in beautiful Nu’uanu on the drive up the Pali Highway which is convenient because it’s easy to find. There are fees for visitors and kamaaina alike I believe like any other historical landmark to restore and maintain the property. I love the all places and things pertaining to our culture… Having more knowledge and being able to see, step foot and in some cases touch the items, furnishings and such bring so much more depth and passion for my culture and people. Queen Emma Summer Palace is a place everyone should visit. It’s educational and will rectify anything you didn’t know about Hawaiian history. The tour guide will give you a brief but in depth description of the palace. Thereafter you may choose a guided tour or roam solo. Beautiful original pieces of furnishings, personal items (encased), paintings etc. Definitely feel the Queen’s presence and mana!

I loved going here. The women that worked there were so nice and on a Wednesday morning right after opening there wasn’t hardly anyone there. I talked to the ladies in the house for about 20 minutes about the history of the home and other museums on the island. Was small, 1 floor but very pretty colonial style furnishings. Then I went to the gift shop bought earrings and ended up talking to the lady in there for a few, she was really nice as well. There was a quilting group in the little hall next to the home and I stayed in there for 30 minutes talking to the ladies that where quilting. I loved going here although the house was small it was pretty and the company there and the fact that they are preserving history is well worth the 10 dollars!

This is a beautiful house of Queen Emma with many of her artifacts and furnitures preserved. I did the self-​guided tour but I was the only tourist there early in the morning so the tour guides told me bits and pieces of the history of Queen Emma and her contributions to Hawaii. The tour guides were very friendly and welcoming. I like looking at antiques so it was interesting to me. I wish I did the full tour looking back!

Such a gorgeous house and beautiful setting! You can really feel the history here. You have the option of a guided tour or walking around on your own. Its so neat to see all of the Queen’s belongings so well preserved. I was especially interested in their relationship with the Queen of England and all of the unique gifts they received from her. It was really interesting learning about the young prince as well, but so sad. Everything is so well kept up here and you can tell great care and love in kept in this place. I can’t believe it took me so long to visit here, but glad we did!

I have gone by this local treasure many times and never took the opportunity to stop in. What a neat and historical place.
We were greeted with Aloha. And given a semi guided tour. It was interesting to hear the history of the Summer Palace and the King Kamehemeha IV and Queen Emma. How they were not only royalty but pillars of the community. Seeking to improve the healthcare system in Hawaii for its citizens. So much so, that the King would go door to door to humbly ask people for donations to help build a local hospital.
The wood furniture is amazing and beautiful. The high ceilings in the house help keep it cool. A neat detail to notice is how wide the doors are in the house. These are custom doors made to fit a females larger bottom skirts.
The for visiting this historical Hawaiian place is minimal. So I was sure to make a donation. This helps with the upkeep of this amazing place.
If you have the time to stop by here, please do. Don’t just keep driving by like I have done many times. This time, I stopped in for a friends wedding that she had hosted at the Summer Palace. Which is a truly amazing place to have an outdoor wedding and be surrounded by such rich Hawaiian heritage.
Another neat tidbit is the piano is a working piano. And at times they might allow a guest to play the piano.

This place is very special. It is filled with the spirit of Aloha. We found this gem by searching online for a place to hold our wedding. Many of our guests who were local but did not know about this historic site. They were very happy to finally make an introduction at our wedding. Mahea and the staff made us feel welcome. They are very knowledgeable and passionate about their work. They are now a part of my Ohana.
Mahea was accommodating in every way for our wedding. She is such a kind soul and all the Daughters of Hawai’i I spoke with, the guardians of this place, were all very wonderful. Many artifacts from Queen Emma and King Kamehameha IV with intriguing stories told by these beautiful people. I don’t want to give too much away. But please stop in when you have time.

On my last visit home, I visited Queen Emma’s Summer Palace for the first time (I know, shame on me!) We did the guided tour with Mahea, who was friendly and knowledgeable. I enjoyed hearing her stories about the Queen and other Hawaiian royalty.
This museum has alot of great pieces, including koa furniture and the Queens jewelry. In a case, they had locks of Emma’s hair, which was cool to see. They also had a friendship bracelet British Queen Victoria had given her with a picture and a lock of hair. A tiger claw necklace, a gift to Emma from India, was also on display.
They had other royal artifacts like the red and yellow feather cloak which was worn by a high ranking alii. I learned about that in school, so it was interesting to see it in real life.
I was particularly interested in Prince Albert, the Queens son, who passed away when he was a small child. His clothes, toys and crib were on display.
Walking on the same wooden floors as the Queen and seeing her belongings was a surreal feeling. It makes the past feel closer. It was not that long ago that Hawaiian royalty walked on the same spot.
It was cool to learn that Queen Emma and Liholiho were a renaissance couple. Mahea had interesting tidbits which was way better than reading a history book!
Very peaceful place. Great for history buffs!

I’ve passed this way so many times but had never bothered to go inside the Queen Emma Summer Palace until recently. Such beautiful and ancient artifacts to see and check out. Not super crowded and although the sign outside said no inside photography, the ladies in charge of the place at that time of visit told me it was okay to take non-​flash photos of the interior of the house. They said that sign is old.
Very informative and good way to learn more about the culture and history of the queen as well as the state in general.

This was such a nice and tranquil spot to spend some time. It’s not crowded with tons of tourists and you get some great information about the history of the queen as well as Hawaii in general.
One can enjoy the home as well as the grounds of the palace which have some incredible flora.

I came here with my mom, and it was interesting and informative. The «palace» is cute and has a rich history; it is really fortunate that the Daughters of Hawaii saved this place from being destroyed. I agree with the others that it is worth taking the guided tour rather than the self-​guided tour. The guides have a lot of information that you would not know if you just walked through the house yourself. It’s a much fuller experience if you know what you are actually looking at!

Stopped here in the line of duty (hubby’s work), and was impressed by the green, cool, quiet serenity, though Pali Highway is just down the curved driveway. It’s a small historic site, but interesting nonetheless. There’s a nominal entrance fee, but check out the amazing curly koa furnishings! And there’s a nice park with trees behind the Palace, for families to enjoy (you can access the park at the next street after Queen Emma Summer Palace)!
There’s also a small gift shop with local crafts and gifts. Again, some amazing koa products. Check it out!

I have lived in Hawaii all my life and never have been to this place. I came here for a graduation party and the facility is just so elegant and beautiful. I didn’t know you could have parties here! Loved it!

Great tour, our guide was great and she was very informative. For $ 10 you get a tour by a real person, not just an audio tour. It was well worth it to learn about the palace and the history of the local land.

Most guys don’t like historic museums, but I can tell you that after passing this place on the Pali several times, I decided to stop and visit; I’ve been back a couple of times now.
It’s definitely worth the visit to see the history and culture of this beautiful island. You’ll see amazing furniture made from many native Hawaiian trees.
So quit passing this place up and stop by for a visit. Tell your guy-​friends that they need to «get over it» and prepare to be amazed.

My husband and I got married here. The ladies here is so wonderful I truly adore them all. This place will be good for a small wedding 75 ppl max. No fire lanterns because its a historic place. If u have your wedding here all your guest will have free tour of the palace. I subtracted one star because my wedding party and myself did not get a tour. I will go back for a tour and see all those beautiful ladies.

A hidden gem, not in plain sight, but worth every penny.
We opted for the personal tour, and I was surprised that the tour was only $ 2 more than the self-​guided version. Our docent was Jesse, and his tour was so informational and full of history and knowledge of birds and plants around the grounds. Our tour was more than an hour, and soon it was time for them to close. The house (palace) is full of period furniture and other artifacts relating to Queen Emma and her family. Of note, the house was fabricated in Boston, then shipped to Oahu and reassembled there. It is a one story house, with high ceilings and many windows and doors for cross ventilation. The grounds, now, are several acres but when built is was 65 acres and must have been a wonderful of gracious life on the island.
Also, that afternoon, there were a group of ukulele players that come twice a week to «jam» with their ukes in the nearby meeting hall. It was charming.
I highly recommend this place.

I often see the Queen Emma Summer Palace sign when I go up and down the Pali Hwy to Kailua and Kaneohe from downtown Honolulu during the weekends — just to get away from it all. I noticed that the Queen Emma Summer Palace is off Pali Hwy, so I decided to hop off the bus and check things out. For starters, it’s not a palace of any means. It’s basically an 18^th century home that has been remodeled and well kept by the descendents of the royal family. Like the Iolani Palace, the Queen Emma Summer Palace provides a rich look in how the royals of Queen Emma and King Kamehameha IV lived. This basically was their home away from home, away from the hustle and bustle of taking care of the Hawaiian Kingdom.
The hours are 9am to 4pm daily, but they do charge admission. $ 6 for adults /​$ 4 for kamaaina /​$ 1 kids /​free under 4 years old. Forget the beach, when you can entertain yourself with a slice of old Hawaiian kingdom life. The docents there do a great job in telling visitors of how the Queen and the King lived here. The house is filled with artifacts from the period. I realized that, while I have lived in Hawaii all of my life, I still have a lot of stuff to learn about the Hawaiian culture! Having these cultural exhibits helps locals and visitors alike, that history is fascinating for those who have the time and passion for it. The docents love to talk about the home and the Queen. Everything has been restored to their original condition and everything is pretty much immaculate.
I gained a greater appreciation for myself since I live here, after leaving the Queen Emma Summer Palace. While there is a lot of time to go to the beach, take some time and immerse yourself in the Hawaiian culture sometime. You’ll be glad you did! Recommended for those who are interested in Hawaiian history. There is a small gift shop in the back of the palace. Do take the guided tour and it normally takes about 2 hours for the entire thing. Be prepared to be amazed at what history can do for your mind. It’s basically history coming alive in front of your eyes, instead of reading it in a history book.
A+

Very nice blast into historic Hawaiiana…
Admission: $ 6 adult/​$ 4 kama’aina/$ 1 kids/​free under 4
Hours: open daily 9a-​4pm
The first thing my son said was «This doesn’t look like a palace!», and he’s right, it’s a house. A house filled with historic artifacts from the monarchy.
Queen Emma (who was married to Kamehameha IV) enjoyed living here because it was much cooler in Nuuanu (too hot in town). There are many of her things/​artifacts in this house which takes about 20 – 30 minutes to see:

Her piano was from Europe, which was shipped to Hawaii by boat via Cape Horn.
Her fancy (what-​do-​you-​call-​that-​glass-​case-​that-​holds-​all-​the-​fancy plates and cups?) display from Queen Victoria (her wedding gift) sits proudly in the back room.
You also get a glimpse into Emma’s son Prince Albert’s childhood, as there are several of his things on display as well. (He died when he was only 4 years old.)
(BTW, When we got to the piano, the tour guide asked if I had an iPhone to take a picture of my kids next to the piano. So I whipped out my phone and started snapping away. I was set up! There is a sign at the entrance (which I failed to see) that says no inside photography. Oops.)

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
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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.
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