Hulihe‘e Palace is located in historic Kailua-Kona on Ali‘i Drive. The Palace was originally built out of lava rock during the Kingdom of Hawai‘i on land known as Kalāke‘e, a former residence of Kamehameha the Great. The Palace itself was first home to High Chief John Adams Kuakini, brother of Ka‘ahumanu the favorite wife of Kamehameha, and later home to more members of Hawaiian royalty than any other residence in Hawai‘i. Hulihe‘e Palace consists of six large graciously appointed rooms, two large inviting oceanfront lanai and lovely grounds.

In 1924, Hulihe‘e Palace was in ruins and the Daughters set about to save the Palace. The grounds were so overgrown that the house could not be seen from the road. In 1925, the Territorial Legislature purchased Hulihe‘e and set it aside for the Daughters to use and maintain as a museum. When the Daughters finally took over Hulihe‘e in 1927, there was still little interest in historic preservation in the islands. At this time, the Inter-Island Steam Navigation Company began to formulate plans for an oceanfront hotel in Kailua-Kona. They decided the grounds of Hulihe‘e was the most desirable location and at once began to pressure the Daughters to relinquish Hulihe‘e. The ladies held firm and because of their spirit, Kailua-Kona still has some open waterfront at Hulihe‘e. In 1973, Hulihe‘e was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today Hulihe‘e is a museum showcasing artifacts from the era of King Kalākaua and Queen Kapi‘olani, featuring beautiful koa wood furniture, portraits, kapa, feather work, Hawaiian quilts and artifacts from Hawai‘i’s royal past.

One Sunday out of the month, the Hulihe‘e Palace features an Afternoon at Hulihe‘e Palace, a cultural day with hula and mele. Bring your whole family and celebrate Hawaiian culture on the lawn of the Palace.

Private Tours

30 min Docent Guided
Limited to 9 people per tour
Available Tuesday - Saturday, 9:30 AM to 4 PM

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No parking available on site.
Free public parking available at 75-5668 Kuakini Hwy, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 and Paid public parking lots available on Sarona Rd.

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Download Parking Map (pdf)

Group Tours

For groups of more than 10 people, please call one-week prior to visiting to schedule a guided tour (808) 731-3033.

School Field Trips

Our tour teaches keiki an important part of Hawaiian history as they walk through the former vacation home of Hawaii’s royal family. We recommend a guided tour for K-12 levels and require that school organizers bring one chaperone for every 10 students.

For tour prices and to make arrangements for your school field trip, please email Sunshine at sunshine@daughtersofhawaii.org or call (808) 731-3033.

Accessibility

Because the Palace was built in the nineteenth century, access may not be available for visitors who have difficulties climbing stairs. We are happy to make alternative arrangements for visitors who have difficulty climbing stairs. Please call (808) 731-3033 in advance to make arrangements.

Facility Rental

At the Hulihe‘e Palace, we’ve got the perfect setting for you. Whether it is a diamond and pearl anniversary, a wedding reception, your baby’s first lū‘au, graduation or that important business luncheon or dinner, the Hulihe‘e Palace is a unique and prestigious site for your event. With our breathtaking views of the oceanfront, you will make your special event a truly memorable and successful affair for you and your friends. Up to 300 people can be accommodated on the grounds.

View Our Rental Options

02 Oct

Hulihe‘e Open for Private Tours

We are pleased and excited to announce the limited re-opening of Hulihe‘e Palace by reservation for private tours, Tuesday through Saturday! To ensure the health
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01 Aug

Limited Re-Opening of the Palaces in August

We are pleased and excited to announce the limited re-opening of the Palaces! To ensure the health and safety of visitors, volunteers, and our employees,
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30 Jul

Ho‘omaka Hou

Mahalo to Kahu Hailama Farden, Kahu David, our members and partners who were able to join us for Ho‘omaka Hou, the blessing and re-opening of
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03 Jun

Daughters Awarded HIHumanities CARES Act Grant

The Daughters of Hawai‘i were awarded a $15,0000 CARES Act Grant from the Hawai‘i Council for the Humanities through a grant from the National Endowment
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This is a wonderful place to get an introduction to Hawaiian history. The place is beautiful and the docents are marvelous. Kenneth shared his passion and knowledge with us, and the other docent, upstairs, was excellent too. We are now eager to learn more. The gift shop where you buy the tickets is tiny but has some beautiful things. The entire place is serene with lovely views of the bay.
RUTH S via TripAdvisor
My daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed our guided tour of the Hulihe’e Palace. The docent was very knowledgeable about the history of the ancient Hawaiian artifacts which are housed here as well as the history of the 19th century Hawaiian royalty. I was particularly impressed that the docent was able to relate historical things from this Palace with those of the Iolani Palace which we visited in Honolulu. This was helpful in connecting several historical dots for us.
TRAVELINGGOGI via TripAdvisor

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Where royals came to unwind.

Limited Hours of Operation