Planning Your Pilgrimage
A Visitor's Guide to Huliheʻe Palace
Written by a Cultural Expert
Leilani AkoAn Essential Hawaiian Experience
A visit to Huliheʻe Palace is an essential experience for anyone wishing to connect with the history of the Hawaiian Kingdom. To help you plan your journey back in time, here is all the key information at a glance.
This isn't just a museum visit. You're entering a sacred space that holds the mana of Hawaiian royalty. Come with respect, curiosity, and an open heart to truly experience what this wahi pana has to offer.
Essential Visitor Information
📍 Location
75-5718 Aliʻi Drive
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
🕒 Hours of Operation
Wednesday – Saturday
10:00 AM – 3:30 PM
(Last entry 3:00 PM)
Closed Sun-Tues & major holidays
🎫 Admission
Prices vary for different tour types
Discounts available for:
• Seniors • Military
• Kamaʻāina • Youth
Check official website for current rates
🎯 Tour Options
Self-Guided Tours:
Available throughout the day
Docent-Guided Tours:
Typically at 11:30 AM
Reservations highly recommended
♿ Accessibility
As a historic 19th-century building, access is limited for visitors who have difficulty with stairs.
Please call at least 48 hours in advance to discuss alternative arrangements.
🅿️ Parking
No on-site parking at the palace
Limited free street parking and paid public lots available nearby in Kailua Village
📞 Contact & Booking
Website:
daughtersofhawaii.org
Phone:
(808) 329-1877
Email:
tour@daughtersofhawaii.org
Tips for a Meaningful Visit
🎓 Take the Docent-Led Tour
If your schedule allows, the docent-guided tour is invaluable. The docents, many of whom are Daughters of Hawaiʻi themselves, share stories and knowledge that you won't find on any plaque. Their passion is infectious and brings the palace to life.
👀 Look Around You
Don't forget to look across the street at Mokuʻaikaua Church. Imagine Governor Kuakini overseeing the construction of both buildings at the same time. Creating a new center for his community.
🌴 Feel the Grounds
Before or after your tour, spend some time on the lawn. Sit under the shade of the palm trees. Feel the ocean breeze. Look out at the bay. This is the same view the aliʻi cherished.
📅 Check the Calendar
If your visit coincides with one of the monthly "Afternoon at Huliheʻe" events, you are in for a treat. These free concerts feature hula and music on the lawn. They are a wonderful celebration of living Hawaiian culture.
👟 Come Prepared
Remember to remove your shoes before entering (required). Bring comfortable walking shoes that are easy to slip off and on. Allow 45-60 minutes for the full experience.
❤️ Visit with Respect
This is a sacred space. Come with an attitude of respect and openness. Allow yourself to feel the mana and connect with the stories of the aliʻi who called this place home.
The Broader Journey: Exploring Hawaiʻi's Diverse Spirit
While your heart is in Kona, the story of Hawaiʻi spans all our islands. For those whose travels also take them to Oʻahu, there are other experiences that offer different, yet equally compelling, facets of our island home.
🚗 For the Adventurous Heart
Coral Crater Adventure Park
If the stories of royal life inspire a desire for a different kind of thrill, Coral Crater Adventure Park in West Oʻahu offers a day of high-flying action. This 35-acre park is an outdoor playground featuring six ziplines that send you soaring through the jungle canopy.
- • Lines ranging from 300 to 900 feet long
- • Rugged side-by-side ATV trails
- • Adventure Tower with climbing walls
- • 18-element aerial obstacle course
🕊️ For a Day of Remembrance
Pearl Harbor National Memorial
No visit to Oʻahu is complete without paying respects at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial. It is a place of deep historical significance. Marking a pivotal moment not just for Hawaiʻi, but for the world.
While Huliheʻe Palace tells the story of the Hawaiian Kingdom, Pearl Harbor tells a crucial chapter of Hawaiʻi's 20th-century history. Visiting both provides a deeper, more complete understanding of the forces that have shaped these islands.
The Enduring Echo of Royalty
Returning to the quiet grounds of Huliheʻe Palace, the sounds of Aliʻi Drive seem to fade away once more. Here, in the shade of the palms, you can feel the enduring echo of the past. This palace is so much more than lava rock and koa wood. More than Victorian furniture and glass display cases. It is a vessel of memory. A living testament to a sovereign nation. An inspiring story of cultural resilience.
Its survival is a direct result of the deep love and unwavering kuleana of the Daughters of Hawaiʻi. They saw a treasure where others saw only real estate. To visit Huliheʻe is to accept an invitation. An invitation to listen to the whispers of the aliʻi. To see the world through their eyes. To connect with the profound, living history of the Hawaiian Kingdom.
It is an opportunity to feel the mana for yourself. A spiritual energy that, thanks to the Daughters, continues to radiate from the heart of old Kona.
🗺️ Explore Huliheʻe Palace
⏰ Quick Reference
- Hours: Wed-Sat 10-3:30
- Last Entry: 3:00 PM
- Guided Tours: 11:30 AM
- Duration: 45-60 minutes
- Parking: Street/lots nearby
✅ Before You Go
- Check website for current hours & pricing
- Reserve docent tour in advance
- Wear shoes easy to remove
- Plan for 45-60 minutes minimum
- Arrive early for parking
📞 Contact Information
Address:
75-5718 Aliʻi Drive
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
Phone:
(808) 329-1877
Email:
tour@daughtersofhawaii.org
Website:
daughtersofhawaii.org
