Outside ʻIolani Palace
WHY DOES THIS LOOK SO FAMILIAR?
Outside ʻIolani Palace and a Classic Hawaii Five-O Connection
By Teresa Davis | Travel & Lifestyle Explorer
My view of ʻIolani Palace from across the street - the building that made me wonder, “Why does this look so familiar?”
Before I Even Went Inside
Before I ever stepped inside ʻIolani Palace, the outside of the building had already caught my attention. I remember looking at it and thinking that there was something familiar about it.
I kept staring at the building thinking, Why does this look so familiar? Where have I seen this before?
At first, I couldn't place it. I was looking at a historic royal palace in downtown Honolulu, but something about the exterior kept tugging at my memory.
A Quick Backstory: ʻIolani Palace
ʻIolani Palace was completed in 1882 for King Kalākaua and later became the home of his sister and successor, Queen Liliʻuokalani. It served as the official royal residence and as a center of political and social life for the Hawaiian Kingdom. Today, the restored Palace is a National Historic Landmark and the only official royal residence in the United States. Learn more from ʻIolani Palace.
Then the Tour Guide Gave Me the Answer
It wasn't until we were on the tour that I finally understood why the building looked familiar. Our guide explained that the exterior of ʻIolani Palace had been used in the classic Hawaii Five-O television series starring Jack Lord.
In the original series, exterior views of the Palace represented Hawaii Five-O headquarters. For viewers, it was the place associated with Steve McGarrett going back to headquarters to conduct business with his team and deal with matters connected to the governor.
That's when it clicked. I had seen this building on television.
That little connection made the visit even more interesting to me. I was standing in front of a building with an important place in Hawaiian history, but it also had this unexpected connection to a classic television show I recognized.
Looking Around the Historic Area
As I looked around and took photographs, I also captured another striking landmark nearby: Aliʻiōlani Hale and the King Kamehameha I statue. These photographs are part of what I remember about seeing this historic part of Honolulu before going inside the Palace.
A wide view of Aliʻiōlani Hale with the King Kamehameha I statue centered in front.
This is where the photographs can be a little deceptive if you are looking back at them later. The grand building behind the statue is Aliʻiōlani Hale, not ʻIolani Palace. The King Kamehameha I statue stands in front of Aliʻiōlani Hale, across the street from the Palace.
Palm trees frame Aliʻiōlani Hale and the King Kamehameha I statue in this closer view.
The King Kamehameha I Statue
The statue immediately stands out against the building behind it. I took several photographs from different distances because the gold details, the pose of King Kamehameha I and the architecture behind him made such a strong scene.
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Two of my closer views of the King Kamehameha I statue, with Aliʻiōlani Hale rising behind it.
Seeing the Palace, Aliʻiōlani Hale and the statue so close together gave me a much stronger sense of how much history is concentrated in this part of Honolulu. I went there expecting a palace tour, but even before I walked through the doors, there was already a story unfolding outside.
Teresa's Take
What made me stop: The exterior of ʻIolani Palace looked strangely familiar.
The moment it clicked: Learning on the tour about the Palace's connection to the classic Hawaii Five-O.
What surprised me: Recognizing a real historic landmark from television.
Another landmark that caught my eye: The King Kamehameha I statue in front of Aliʻiōlani Hale.
Why the exterior was worth photographing: The history, architecture, palm-lined setting and television connection all came together in one place.
Continue Exploring ʻIolani Palace
After spending time outside, I went inside the Palace - where the Grand Staircase became one of the first architectural details to stop me in my tracks. That interior story is part of my continuing ʻIolani Palace series.
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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