Iolani Palace, Hawaii: America’s Only Royal Residence

In this installment of ‘Larger Than Life: Architecture Through the Ages,’ we visit the only example of American Florentine architecture.

Constructed of brick, Iolani Palace has a plastered concrete façade. Two central 76-foot towers with smaller towers sport double lanais, or roofed and open-sided verandas. All the symmetrical fluted, Corinthian columns supporting the entryway arch on the first floor and the lower arches on the second floor are made of cast iron and feature acanthus leaf capitals. The veranda railings are also cast iron; they were fabricated in Hawaii, while the columns were fabricated in California. The rows of windows along both levels of the verandas feature matching low arches with decorative keystones. Concrete dentil molding distinguishes the roofline. The Friends of ʻIolani Palace

Once ruled by a monarchy, Hawaii maintained a palace until the late 1800s. Named Iolani Palace and located on the island of Oahu, it’s the only official royal residence located inside the United States. Interestingly, it’s also considered the only American Florentine style building in existence. The palace’s design elements are indicative of an eclectic combination of Italian Renaissance, Gothic, and Romanesque architecture, yet with a unique Hawaiian island flair.

Some of the window etchings are of native Hawaiian island plants, and instead of flag standards being hung in the monarchy’s palace, kahili, traditional symbols of Hawaii, are displayed throughout. Native Hawaiian woods—mostly koa, but also kamani and kou—are used in the paneling, stairway, doors, and windows.