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A museums & cultural sites scene representative of this category on Oʻahu
Museums & Cultural Sites

Queen Emma Summer Palace (Hānaiakamalama)

Urban Honolulu

A Royal Summer Retreat Saved From Demolition by the Daughters of Hawaiʻi

7.8/ 10
Good to go

Queen Emma Summer Palace, at 2913 Pali Highway in Nuʻuanu, was the summer retreat of Queen Emma and Kamehameha IV and is run as a house museum by the Daughters of Hawaiʻi, who saved it from demolition in 1915. It holds original furnishings, quilts and royal portraits, and the site notes it is listed on the State and National historic registers.

It is open Wednesday to Saturday, 10 AM to 3 PM (last entry 2:30 PM) and closed Sunday to Tuesday and major holidays. Self-guided admission is $16 for adult visitors, $14 for ages 6–17 and free for ages 5 and under; Hawaiʻi residents with ID, seniors 65+ and military pay $12. A guided tour is $20 and needs a reservation, but the site gives two different tour schedules (11:30 AM on one page, 11 AM and 1 PM on another), so confirm. The building is a 19th-century house, and the site warns that access may not be available for visitors who have trouble with stairs.

Why Roamwise recommends this

A small, genuine piece of royal Hawaiian history, easy to combine with the Pali Lookout up the road.

Best for: Hawaiian history, a quiet museum visit of about an hour, pairing with the Nuʻuanu Pali Lookout.

Insider tip: closed Sunday to Tuesday — plan for Wednesday to Saturday, and reserve if you want the guided tour.

Respect & culture: Hānaiakamalama was the retreat of Queen Emma and Kamehameha IV, and the story of their son, Prince Albert, is told by docents.
Hawaiian royal historyA quiet museum visitPairing with the Nuʻuanu Pali Lookout
Safety notes:
Open Wednesday to Saturday only; tour times differ between the site's own pages.
Price tier:
$
Cost:
$16 adult self-guided admission; kamaʻāina, seniors and military $12; guided tour $20. (checked October 2026)

Reviews: Google MapsYelp

Local tips

  • •Open Wednesday–Saturday 10 AM–3 PM
  • •last entry 2:30 PM
  • •closed major holidays.
  • •Self-guided $16
  • •kamaʻāina, seniors and military $12
  • •guided tour $20 (reserve).
  • •Tour times conflict between pages (11:30 AM vs 11 AM and 1 PM) — confirm.
  • •Stairs: call (808) 595-6291 at least 48 hours ahead to ask about access.

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