Queen Emma Summer Palace image

Queen Emma Summer Palace

Tourist attraction Museum Historical landmark Event venue Wedding venue History museum Local history museum Historical place museum

One of the Top rated Wedding venues in Honolulu


Address

2913 Pali Hwy, Honolulu, HI 96817

Website

daughtersofhawaii.org

Contact

(808) 595-3167

Rating on Google Maps

4.60 (404 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Saturday: 10 AM to 3:30 PM
  • Sunday: Closed
  • Monday: Closed
  • Tuesday: 10 AM to 3:30 PM
  • Wednesday: Closed
  • Thursday: 10 AM to 3:30 PM
  • Friday: 10 AM to 3:30 PM

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: history (27) beautiful (16) Hawaiian (15) Queen (14) historical (11) tour (11) great (11) Emma (11) visit (11) artifacts (10)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Bert K. 2 years ago on Google • 141 reviews
    A most underrated historical site within 10 minutes from downtown Honolulu. Well preserved historical summer home of Hawaiian Royalty with important cultural artifacts, including excellent examples of kapa (textiles made from wauke or paper mulberry). Self-guided tour with thoroughly labeled artifacts. Docent staff available to answer questions. Small Hawaiian garden. Gift shop with good selection of books on Hawaiian culture and natural history. Culturally themed curios. Entrance easily missed. Look for roadside sign. Fee and reservations required. Options include self guided or docent led group tours. The number of individuals in the facility is limited. Check ahead to learn about masking and vaccination requirements.
    8 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Steinbox82 1 year ago on Google • 37 reviews
    Great cultural heritage site. Very well kept. The grounds keeper is quite friendly and has great local insight! Has a quaint little giftshop. Make sure that you are watching for the entry sign or you may drive past it!
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Town T. 1 year ago on Google • 1188 reviews
    Simple home but well preserved. Reasonable entrance fee. Also, you will learn more about Queen Emma and her family.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 M H. 10 months ago on Google • 268 reviews
    We loved Queen Emma Summer Palace. It is small but elegant. The royal family furniture pieces were beautiful. Also many personal items. It was a wonderful experience.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 EmilyisHappy 1 year ago on Google
    Queen Emma's Summer Palace was a great follow up to the other pieces of history around Oahu. We did the self guided tour. Kind of wished we did the Docent led tour. I feel like you get a little more info. I enjoyed the extra insight into the monarchy of Hawaii. Especially in all the efforts Queen Emma made to better her island for her people. Highly recommend. Would happily support Daughters of Hawaii and their efforts to preserve important landmarks in the history of Hawaii.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Sandeep P. 6 years ago on Google • 329 reviews
    This is a quaint little place. There are a total of 6 rooms and the rooms have been decorated with historical artifacts. If possible try to avail of the free docent led tours. There tours are very informative indeed. You get to learn a lot about Hawaii and it's rulers. There is a gift shop at the back of the main building. The gardens around the building are exquisite.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Diane G. 1 year ago on Google
    Absolutely beautiful? Hard to believe we're allowed to be so close to actual items
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 John A. 2 years ago on Google
    I've been visiting Queen Emma Summer Palace for over 40 years, and it never disappoints. It is a beautiful place with fascinating and lovely furnishings in a gorgeous setting in Nu'uanu Valley. The docents are friendly and knowledgeable, and the gift shop is delightful!
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Brian L. 6 years ago on Google • 102 reviews
    The tour was filled with lots of things for our group to see. The staff was very knowledgeable on Hawaiian history and encouraged questions. The park in the back is a great place to take your kids after and let them play and eat lunch. The thing I would caution you on is if you are driving in yourself it can be hard to see the drive to enter the palace. I believe you will have a great time.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Sarah B. 4 years ago on Google
    I cannot sing enough praise for this tourist spot. We missed the regularly scheduled tour but one of the workers jumped right in and gave us our own private tour. What a wonderful story this palace has and was so interesting to learn about. So glad we made time to stop here! While not a very large house when you're thinking "palace", the story that goes along with it is fascinating.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Drh78 2 years ago on Google
    Great historical self-guided tour through the summer home of Queen Emma. Plan on visiting? Register and pay online, and upon your arrival, be prepared to remove your shoes in order to assist with maintaining the structural integrity of this delicate property while viewing and reading the historical facts about Queen Emma, her sumner place, the artifacts, and her family line.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Candace T. 4 years ago on Google
    The grounds are gorgeous to walk around but only take 10 mins or so. Entrance into the Palace is 10 dollars or 8 for kamaaina. Ladies are friendly and will answer questions about the trees and grounds Please give me a "like"!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 CS D. 1 year ago on Google
    This beautiful palace, a sacred place for the Ali’i of the Hawaiian Kingdom is indeed a gem. The cool brisk Aloha air beckons you to revel on a place that held wonderful memories for a Kingdom that was historically mistreated.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Rebecca M. 4 years ago on Google
    Quaint place tucked in the trees, laden with fabulously beautiful antiques and history. Be prepared to remove your shoes. Get your ticket in the gift shop behind the main house.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Sarah A. 3 years ago on Google
    Our Docent was amazing! She was friendly and very informative. So many artifacts were real and really brings to life the history. I would recommend this to anyone here! It is such a fulfilling experience to be able to see the artifacts!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Sam V. 4 years ago on Google
    After you visit 'Iolani Palace, come here, small, less expensive, right off Pali Highway.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Joe F. 1 year ago on Google
    We attended the Royal Hawaiian Band little concert here. It was fabulous and I enjoyed the event so very much.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Tami H. 9 months ago on Google
    Would recommend coming here! It is beautiful and provides a lot of history, especially if you are into learning about fabulous females in history!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Pete 4 years ago on Google
    This place was interesting for sure but not much to see. It's basically 7 rooms where can't touch anything and it wasn't super impressive. The cool things that were here were seeing the prince's room, fireman outfit, and his crib and basonnete which were made of 4 different types of wood including Koa and they were beautiful. Sorry no pics but they are easy to find. Gave it a three because it at least is a quick visit and the guide there was super nice and knowledgeable.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Silvania M. 3 years ago on Google
    This museum is amazing
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Sky Queen C. 5 years ago on Google
    Christine was very informative about everything we asked and didn't know. It made the experience much better visiting. Make sure to visit the garden to to the side it's very beautiful. we got here by Uber so it's a little hard to find because when it says to turn you need to turn.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kate R. 9 months ago on Google
    Nice little stop to learn more about royal history.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Lee M. 1 month ago on Google • 210 reviews New
    Beautiful home. Lots of history.

  • 5/5 Jacqueline P. 2 months ago on Google • 102 reviews New
    Small but fascinating, at least to me. Amazing to see a place where Queen Emma stayed at times. I've always found it so tragic that Prince Albert died at such a young age. He'd been the hope of the monarchy. It's a beautiful setting and, although Pali Highway is so close, you can hardly hear the traffic.

  • 5/5 Natalie S. 2 months ago on Google • 98 reviews New
    Beautiful spot to learn some Hawaiian history. Spacious park in the back of the building + public restrooms.

  • 5/5 E U. 7 months ago on Google
    Gorgeous place! I attended a wedding here and it was beautiful. The ceremony was outside in the courtyard and reception inside but open and breezy. The bride mentioned that the venue was very affordable and who wouldn’t want to get married in Hawaii at a historical site.

  • 5/5 Tasha-Ann T. 2 years ago on Google
    It was a beautiful experience to visit this historical place. I learned a lot and you can really feel the spirits that live there.

  • 5/5 Paul S. 2 years ago on Google
    Interesting and great hostess

  • 3/5 Jas P. 2 months ago on Google • 11 reviews New
    Nice visit. Need to remove shoes before entry. Some interesting historical items.

  • 5/5 Manny R. 2 years ago on Google
    The palace is so beautiful. It's so peaceful and fresh outaide. Its definitely a hidden gem.

  • 5/5 Teri T. 2 years ago on Google
    Recommend coming here after you visit Iolani Palace. I enjoyed seeing the difference. Hard to explain, but that is what we did. Also a great gift shop and friendly people.

  • 5/5 Julie S. 2 years ago on Google
    It was wonderful to see such care and love restoring the palace. The daughters were very friendly and knowledgeable. Would definitely recommend as a to see thing in oahu

  • 5/5 Samantha N. 2 years ago on Google
    If you like any part or want to know more about some Hawaiian history and the tragedy that brought a profound impact to Hawaiian Healthcare, this summer Palace is definitely worth the time. Off the normal tourist hot spots, the Daughters of Hawaii have taken great care in this home to preserve a spot of history of a prefabricated home built in Boston and brought to Hawaii and then later used by a queen, left a great impact on me and my desire to learn more about Queen Emma.

  • 4/5 Birgit T. 4 years ago on Google
    Well kept place of history. A nice garden around.

  • 5/5 Elizabeth W. 4 years ago on Google
    Interesting historical landmark. The docent is well versed in the history of Hawaiian royalty and lineage. A must see if you are interested in Hawaii's royal history.

  • 4/5 Paul G. 4 years ago on Google
    Nice stop...

  • 5/5 Kaleilani D. 4 years ago on Google
    High Tea event and Hawaiian museum

  • 5/5 Kaimeisha S. 1 year ago on Google
    Was impressed at the layout, preservations, and amount of information available at this location. It was a neat experience and I'm glad I let my mom talk me into a culture day! The Daughters or Hawai'i do a fantastic job keeping this place up and running!

  • 5/5 John W. 4 years ago on Google
    A small museum but very nice place to escape for an afternoon from the city.

  • 5/5 Shawn O. 3 years ago on Google
    Reasonable $10 price to experience some history.

  • 5/5 DAVID H. 3 years ago on Google
    BEAUTIFUL BUT BEWARE OF YUREI,HUNGRY GHOSTS!!

  • 4/5 Katherine G. 4 years ago on Google
    Tiny, but packed with history. To me, it was worth the $10 admission fee to see all the beautiful examples of Victorian woodworking and hear the history of the summer palace and the Hawaiian rulers. Amazing that the palace was brought from America (Bodton) designed in Greek Revivial architectural style, and assembled in Hawaii.That jumble of mixed cultural influences from all over the world is representative of items inside the house as well - lavish riches bestowed by rulers from all over to Queen Emma and her family during the 1800s. There is no gardens really, but there is a curated landscaping of fruit and flower trees that smells divine and was planted by Queen Emma or her family. Honestly the most fragrant place we've been on this side of Ohau.

  • 4/5 Cameron L. 6 years ago on Google
    Enjoyed an impromptu tour and learned much about the royal family of Hawaii. Small palace with easy access.

  • 5/5 Patricia C. 3 years ago on Google
    Excellent 👌

  • 5/5 Starr A. 3 years ago on Google
    Lovely grounds!

  • 5/5 sunshine k. 4 years ago on Google
    So peaceful. Sometimes there are some sketchy people hanging around. But still, so peaceful

  • 5/5 Reenie Sunshine K. 4 years ago on Google
    So peaceful when you go at the right time

  • 5/5 Terrance H. 4 years ago on Google
    Historical; informative; beautiful

  • 4/5 최수진 4 years ago on Google
    (Translated by Google) The Queen's Palace is in a quiet location and has a sad story. (Original) 조용한 곳에 있고 슬픈 스토리가 있는 여왕의 궁전입니다 둘러보는데는 아주 짧게 걸립니다

  • 5/5 T H. 4 years ago on Google
    Informative; convenient

  • 5/5 Angie L. 4 years ago on Google
    The staff inside the house were very friendly, knowledgeable and engaging! My husband and I enjoyed our visit!

  • 4/5 Matt S. 4 years ago on Google
    Really nice place. Lots of history. Staff really nice. Small location.

  • 5/5 Jacki S. 4 years ago on Google
    Fabulous garden area, but small interior.

  • 5/5 Teresa B. 4 years ago on Google
    Excellent guide and great history. Loved it

  • 3/5 Lisa J. 4 years ago on Google
    Wish it was easier to learn about the family didn’t learn a lot and there was not much to see.

  • 5/5 Eric L. 4 years ago on Google
    neat artifacts, beautiful grounds. an informative glimpse into a part of Hawaiian royal history.

  • 4/5 Ruth M. 4 years ago on Google
    A quick stop

  • 5/5 Jake S. 4 years ago on Google
    Great! Tour guide was also fantastic.

  • 5/5 Cynthia M. 4 years ago on Google
    Absolutely wo fearful tour. The gal was so knowledgeable and friendly. Thank you.

  • 5/5 Sean H. 4 years ago on Google
    Historic

  • 5/5 Sharon A. 4 years ago on Google
    An amazing historical place with fascinating stories of some of Hawaii's royalty.

  • 5/5 Monica M. 4 years ago on Google
    Beautiful place, wonderful cultural history.

  • 5/5 ad d. 4 years ago on Google
    Enjoyed the tour of Queen Emmas Summer Palace as well as learning a brief history about her and the royal culture. WoW!! You can definitely feel presence as you kick off your shoes on the wrap around porch, and wander through this lovely restored, royal home, just as the King&Queen did. The lands are also well maintained, peaceful and attached to a park with lush green grass, a small stream and huge sprawling Koa trees. Nice place for a picnic. Enjoy!

  • 4/5 E A. 4 years ago on Google
    Self- or guided tour. Interesting artifacts & descriptions. Short and sweet. Take your shoes off before entering--they have socks if you're uncomfortable barefooted.

  • 3/5 Nadiera S. 4 years ago on Google
    Another beautiful historic Hawaiian property. But very small. We only spent 45min total on the grounds.

  • 5/5 MJS 3 years ago on Google
    We loved our visit! Not so much a "palace", more of a country get away for Queen Emma and her family. There are many artifacts and antiques in the home, all intriguing.The best part of the visit was the docent! I wish I knew her name. She knows so much about the family and Hawaiian history. We asked many questions and she was always quick to answer. I told her, "we could talk to you all day". If you are interested in history/ Hawaii history and the culture, this is such a great visit!

  • 5/5 Christopher E. 4 years ago on Google
    Very historical, great to visit, excellent gift store, jewelry, books, and art

  • 5/5 Adrienne A. 4 years ago on Google
    Neat artifacts, and the staff was very knowledgeable.


Call (808) 595-3167 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible restroom
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible parking lot
  • From the business
    • ✓️ Identifies as women-owned

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