Editor’s note: West Hawaii Today, in conjunction with the Kona Historical Society, is presenting a weekly feature called “Historic Kailua Village.” The articles and the accompanying photographs have been compiled by the society and were published in a booklet titled “Kona Historical Society’s Historic Kailua Village Map.”
Hulihee Palace
Pleased with his construction of a stone sanctuary for the Christian missionaries in 1836, Gov. John Adams Kuakini constructed another stone building, Hulihee Palace, as his home in 1838. He situated it right across Makai Street, which is named Alii Drive today, from Mokuaikaua Church.
After his death, Princess Ruth Keelikolani, who succeeded him as governess, inherited Hulihee. She had a hale pili, or grass house, built on the palace grounds, where she lived; her guests stayed in the palace. Visitors who look closely can still see the foundation of her traditional hale pili.
In 1884, King David Kalakaua and Queen Esther Kapiolani transformed Hulihee Palace to suit their Victorian tastes. They had stucco applied to the stone exterior and added gothic windows to the second story. They also ordered the construction of a pavilion on the north side of the property to accommodate crowds on social occasions; this was torn down in 1957.
Hulihee Palace was placed on the National Register of Historic Sites in 1973. The Daughters of Hawaii are its current caretakers, and it is open for tours.
Copyright 2005 Kona Historical Society. Reprinted by permission.