Queen Emma’s Summer Palace on the Pali Highway

I had originally planned to see it on last year’s trip to Hawaii, but I didn’t know how to get there using public transportation at that time. This year, I did additional research and found it involved a single bus transfer near the Iolani Palace. It turned out to be easy, as it was on the main line from downtown Honolulu over the mountains to Kailua.

After Martine’s ombrophobia (fear of rain) as exhibited during our visit to the Lyon Arboretum on the first full day of our trip, I made sure that she brought rain gear with her. At the Arboretum, it rained lightly on and off about thirty times during our visit; and I expected the same at Queen Emma’s Summer Palace, as it was also high in the hills. (Fortunately, we did not encounter any rainfall.)

In fact, that was its reason for existing. Honolulu is hot and humid most of the time, so King Kamehameha IV and his wife, Queen Emma would spend time at her hill “palace” (it was actually more of a house) because it was cooler there. We ourselves found the temperature to be considerably cooler than the coastal lowlands.

Unfortunately, King Kamehameha IV did not reign long before he joined his ancestors. Nor did the heir, Prince Albert Edward. As a widow, Queen Emma continued to live at the Summer Palace while her brother-in-law ruled as Kamehameha V.

The grounds are run by the Daughters of Hawai’i, who offer informative tours of the building.