Many tourists travel from all over the world to catch some rest and relaxation on the beautiful island of Hawaii.  Honolulu, spanning over ten acres is a common destination due to its beauty and history.  One of the most popular sights on Honolulu island is Iolani Palace.

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Tolani Palace was built in 1879 as an American florentine style palace.  Due to its history and importance to Hawaii, it was named part of Hawaii Capital Historic District with focus on sharing the story of the palace and ensuring its preservation for years to come.

The royal families who ruled over the kingdom of Hawaii took residence in the palace.  Beginning with Kamehameha III under the Kameharueha Dynasty in 1845, the palace quickly became known for its beauty and regal nature.  The dynasty held its place in the palace until 1893 when the monarchy was overthrown.

The palace was transformed into the capital building of Hawaii until 1969.  It was closed and later restored and opened as a museum in 1978, allowing tourists to see how the royals lived and learn more about the unique culture and history of Hawaii.  Hawaii proudly boasts the only royal palace on United States soil. After finishing snorkeling in Oahu, many travel to the exquisite palace to learn a little about the history, and because of its curious history as housing more than just original furnishings.

A unique part of the palace’s history is the proximity to the ancient burial site for nobles.  The site is unique as it is the home to many western style tombs.  They were small houses of coral blocks with a thatched roof.  There are no windows and the tombs are heavily guarded.  No one can enter them except for burials or on Hawaii’s Memorial Day.  The tombs themselves are very crowded and seem very out of place with the unmarked graves nearby.  Many of the unmarked graves were moved in 1865, often being cited as the source for so much of Hawaii’s curious history to come.

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Ironically, even with the guards constantly keeping watch to keep trespassers away from the final resting place of the dead, they are unable to stop the dead from dwelling amongst the living.  Many speculate that it was the moving of the graves that caused a great unrest amongst the spirits that previously laid peacefully there.  Others suggest it is the 135 year old banyan trees that house the spirits of the dead on site.  There are many reports of visitors spotting things out of the ordinary that no one can explain.

Lights are seen in the towers, long after the doors are locked and closed.  The piano in the Blue Room plays on its own.  Chanting, voices, and music are commonly reported from direction of the upstairs bathroom.  Silhouettes appear in the windows.  Security cameras pick up odd shapes and the movement of objects.  Items in glass cases somehow manage to end up in other rooms or cases without explanation.  One startling presence is common at 5:30 am and is of the queen herself.  She has been spotted wandering the grounds and leaves the stale scent of her cigars wherever she goes.