Hawai‘i is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Part of this is due to the abundance of natural beauty the islands have to offer, but another is the great lengths the people of Hawai’i have gone to preserve its culture. Although Hawai‘i is now a state within the U.S. (the 50th!), it wasn’t always. It was once its own sovereign land, ruled by monarchs.
The last reigning monarchs of The Kingdom of Hawai‘i lived in ‘Iolani Palace, an exceptionally regal and ornate estate. Throughout the years, the palace has undergone several changes and residences. It went from being the official royal residence to the home of various Hawaiian government offices. Today it is a National Historic Landmark, preserved and maintained by The Friends of ‘Iolani Palace. This meaningful organization is committed to upholding the heritage, culture, and esteem of the palace, but they can’t do it alone. That’s why contributions from individuals and companies like Malie are so important.
As you read on, you’ll learn more about the historical context of ‘Iolani Palace, its role in Hawaiian culture today, and how Malie’s collaboration with the palace is making a difference.
What is Hawai‘i’s ‘Iolani Palace?
Located on the island of O‘ahu in downtown Honolulu, ‘Iolani Palace holds a special place in Hawaiian history. The palace was once home to Hawaiʻi’s last ruling monarchs, King King Kalākaua, “The Merrie Monarch,” and later his sister and successor, Queen Lili‘uokalani. It is the only official palace in the United States.
King Kalākaua lived in the palace as his royal residence with his wife, Queen Kapi‘olani, until his death in 1891. Although the subsequent reign of Queen Lili’uokalani was brief, it was impactful. To this day, Queen Lili‘uokalani is still known for her peaceful resistance to a coup to overthrow the monarchy, staged by a provisional U.S. governmental group. ‘Iolani Palace would become home to several governmental operations after the Kingdom was overthrown in 1893. In the years following World War II, the palace fell into a state of disrepair due to neglect—until The Friends of ‘Iolani Palace stepped in.
What is “The Friends of ‘Iolani Palace?”
With a mission to preserve, restore, and protect ‘Iolani Palace, this dedicated group organized to return the palace to its original glory. The restoration was completed in 1978 and ‘Iolani Palace opened to the public as a museum. Today, tours are offered of ‘Iolani Palace—a living restoration of a proud Hawaiian national identity. Upkeep of the grounds, as well as the interior and exterior of the palace, requires ongoing attention and funding, which is made possible through contributions from patrons like Malie.
Malie’s Special Collection
There are many ways to help support the work of The Friends of ‘Iolani Palace, including purchasing products from Hawai‘i-inspired brands like Malie. A leader in the natural and organic beauty space since 2004 with headquarters on the Garden Island of Kauai, we feel an inherent connection to Hawai‘i—and one that extends far beyond the stunning physical, natural beauty of these islands. Hawai‘i is the exquisite place it is because of its people, and Malie Organics is dedicated to preserving the heritage and culture of Hawai’i.
Malie has created a special ‘Iolani Palace Maile Collection, of which 100% of the proceeds are donated to The Friends of ‘Iolani Palace. Within this collection is a Reed Diffuser and a Cologne, both made with clean ingredients and a bounty of love, which is a hallmark of the Malie brand. They also pay tribute to a fragrance noted to be treasured by King Kalākaua—the maile plant native to Hawai‘i. During his 1881 trip around the world, the King traveled with bottles of maile cologne, carrying a sense of the fresh, fragrant mountains of home with him.
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‘Iolani Palace Maile Collection Reed Diffuser
Perfect for the home, reed diffusers are a simple and natural way to infuse a gentle aroma into any space. Diffusers can scent a whole room without combustion or electricity. Capture the essence of Hawai’i and transport yourself to the islands with indulgent aromas available at Malie.
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‘Iolani Palace Maile Collection Cologne
Our perfumes and colognes bring natural island scents straight to you. Malie’s colognes are noticeable without being overpowering, making them perfect for both day and nighttime use. These perfumes are 100% guilt-free. They are vegan, never tested on animals, and are free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, petrochemicals, mineral oil, silicone, talc, and gluten.
What Contributions to The Friends of ‘Iolani Palace Do
Purchases from Malie’s ‘Iolani Palace Maile Collection help the organization in a number of ways. Additional funding for The Friends of ‘Iolani Palace helps the organization:
- Maintain the grounds
The land around ‘Iolani Palace is thought to have ties to a site of an ancient heiau (place of worship). The grounds include a “Kapu” area which translates to “sacred” or “consecrated”; this area must be respected by all visitors and only designated individuals are permitted to frequent it. Also included in the grounds is the Kanaina Building of Old Archives, the Hale Koa (‘Iolani Barracks), the Sacred Mound, The Keli‘iponi Hale, and the Gate Entrances.
The specialty artifacts and interior of ‘Iolani Palace are what make it a source of true history for Hawai‘i. Funding for The Friends of ‘Iolani Palace helps the organization preserve, restore, and share past monarchies’ furnishings and possessions, many of which have been recovered after having been scattered worldwide.
‘Iolani Palace is known for its many popular tours. There are options for Guided Tours with a Palace Docent as well as Self-Led Audio Tours. Tours include viewings of the first and second floors as well as the basement gallery exhibits. Tour options include:
- Docent-Led Tour
- Self-Led Audio Tour
- Fashion Fit for Royalty Tour
- Chamberlain’s Tour
- Hawaii’s Royal Connection to Japan Tour
- White Glove Tour
- Royal Legacy Tour
- Kalakaua Legacy Tour
- School Tours
- Basement Gallery Exhibits
- Educate others
Funding for The Friends of ‘Iolani Palace from Malie as well as others helps the organization spread the word about the significance of ‘Iolani Palace. Educating visitors about Hawaiian history, culture, and heritage is integral to keeping it alive. Some of the ongoing programs The Friends of ‘Iolani Palace holds include:
- Keiki and Ohana Activities (for children). These activities are designed for students of elementary school age. Through hands-on activities and instruction, participants get exposed to the cultural and historical significance of many activities that occurred within the palace back in the day. Past activities include the Queen Lili‘uokalani Quilt Activity and the Royal Orders activity.
- Virtual Experiences in the form of 3D virtual walkthrough tours, portrait series, and more give individuals who are unable to visit ‘Iolani Palace in person the chance to experience a taste of its grandeur.
- School Tours. The Palace leads school tours on Tuesdays and Thursdays with four weeks’ advanced scheduling. Students are encouraged to visit to gain a deeper understanding of the history of the Hawaiian monarchy and the cultural significance of ‘Iolani Palace.
- Docent-led tours. Docents are specially trained individuals who have an interest in sharing the wealth of information that is Hawai‘i’s history of people of all ages. Docents are trained by The Friends of ‘Iolani Palace in a special program to which they may be accepted after sending in an application. The high caliber of the palace’s docents makes it so that not just anyone can lead a tour. You have to have a real love and passion for Hawai‘i! This helps enhance the entire experience for all individuals who visit the palace and its grounds. It also makes touring the space a more worthwhile and meaningful experience.
- Na Mo’olelo Lecture Series. This lecture series features presentations by Hawaiian cultural experts, historians, and museum professionals. The goal is to initiate conversations about Hawaiian history and culture while educating participants about the museum and its practices. This is a free series that is part of ‘Iolani Palace’s mission to share Hawai‘i’s unique qualities with the greater community.
How You Can Help
If you’re interested in helping preserve the history, heritage, and cultural integrity of ‘Iolani Palace, consider making a purchase from Malie’s ‘Iolani Maile Collection. It is a true honor for us to produce these products, and we are proud to be able to donate 100% of the proceeds to The Friends of ‘Iolani Palace.
For more information about Malie and our alignment with the multicultural epicenter of Hawai‘i, we invite you to contact us today! You may email sales@malie.com or call 808.332.6220. Mahalo!
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