Iolani Palace
THE GRAND STAIRCASE THAT STOPPED ME IN MY TRACKS
My First Impressions Inside ʻIolani Palace
By Teresa Davis | Travel & Lifestyle Explorer
The Grand Staircase was one of the first things that caught my attention inside ʻIolani Palace.
A Quick Backstory: ʻIolani Palace
Located in downtown Honolulu, ʻIolani Palace was completed in 1882 and served as the official royal residence of King Kalākaua and later his sister and successor, Queen Liliʻuokalani. The Palace stood at the center of the Hawaiian Kingdom’s political and social life until the overthrow of the monarchy in 1893. Today, the restored Palace is a National Historic Landmark and the only official royal residence in the United States.
With that history in mind, walking inside made me pay even closer attention to the details around me.
The first thing that caught my attention when I walked into ʻIolani Palace was the Grand Staircase.
I didn't rush past it. I stood there for a minute and just looked.
What impressed me most wasn't simply the size of the staircase. It was the craftsmanship - the rich wood, the carved banisters and railings, the carpet running up the center of the steps, and the decorative figures positioned at the base. There was so much detail that I found myself studying the staircase before moving on to anything else.
The Woodwork Made Me Stop
From the side, the carved woodwork, railings and carpet become even more noticeable.
The wood was what I kept coming back to. The banisters and railings looked carefully crafted, and I remember thinking about the amount of work that must have gone into putting all of those details together.
That detail makes even more sense knowing that the Palace identifies the staircase as being made of Hawaiian koa wood. The official Palace description calls the staircase the focal point of the Grand Hall. Read more about the Grand Hall.
The carpet was another detail I noticed. Against all that dark wood, the patterned runner gave the staircase another layer of color and made it even more photogenic.
The Details at the Foot of the Stairs
One of the decorative carved figures at the base of the Grand Staircase.
Then I started noticing the smaller details. At the beginning of the staircase, on the wooden posts, were carved decorative figures. They were the kind of details that could easily be missed if you were moving too quickly.
For me, those figures, the woodwork and the carpet all worked together. This wasn't just a staircase that took you from one floor to another. It was part of the character of the room.
Seeing It From Where I Stood
Looking back at my photos helped me correct one part of my memory. I've visited a lot of museums and historic homes over the years, and at first I remembered walking up these stairs. But when I looked carefully at my photographs again, I could see that the staircase was roped off during my visit.
So my memory of this particular moment is really about standing at the bottom of the staircase, taking my time and appreciating what I could see from there.
And that was enough. The staircase was one of those architectural details that made me stop before I had even gotten very far into the Palace.
Teresa's Take
What caught my attention first: The Grand Staircase.
What I noticed most: The carved wood banisters and railings.
A detail I didn't expect: The patterned carpet running up the center of the stairs.
What made me look closer: The decorative carved figures at the base of the staircase.
Why it stayed with me: The craftsmanship and how photogenic the entire staircase was.
Continue Exploring ʻIolani Palace
This is the first story in my ʻIolani Palace interior series. Next, I'll take a closer look at the rooms, royal furnishings, clothing and portraits I photographed inside the Palace.
Continue Exploring Hawaii
About Teresa
Hi, I'm Teresa Davis, a Florida travel and lifestyle writer sharing memorable destinations, food experiences and discoveries from my travels.
Every destination has a story. Thanks for exploring this one with me.
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