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Oahu State Park
Waikiki & Honolulu Historical Sight
This historical site is slightly different from the first two listed here. The Queen Emma Summer Palace is a historic landmark and was once the summer retreat for Queen Emma of Hawaii, who used the retreat from 1857-1885, according to Hawaii State Parks.
In terms of history, the summer palace served as a retreat from the Hawaiian heat for Queen Emma and her husband King Kamehameha IV. While Queen Emma didn’t use the retreat much before 1857, the summer palace was built in 1847.
The Queen Emma Summer Palace was acquired by the Daughters of Hawai’i, with the intention to preserve the historical significance of ancient Hawaiian history. In addition to the retreat itself, the entire grounds is home to a small museum and gift shop. Please note that there is a nominal admission fee, from which all the proceeds go back to conservation and operating the destination.
Getting to this historical landmark is quite simple if you’re starting from Honolulu as it is located just ten minutes from the heart of Honolulu. If you’re wanting to get a head start on your trip to the museum and want to start exploring the island as soon as you land, here are directions to the site from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport: take I-H-1 East, taking exit 21A Hawai 61 toward Pali Highway. Turn left onto Pali Highway and watch for the Queen Emma Summer Palace on the right.
