This place was interesting for sure but not much to see. Its basically 7 rooms where cant touch anything and it wasnt super impressive. The cool things that were here were seeing the princes room, fireman outfit, and his crib and basonnete which were made of 4 different types of wood including Koa and they were beautiful. Sorry no pics but they are easy to find.Gave it a three because it at least is a quick visit and the guide there was super nice and knowledgeable.

The tour was filled with lots of things for our group to see. The staff was very knowledgeable on Hawaiian history and encouraged questions. The park in the back is a great place to take your kids after and let them play and eat lunch. The thing I would caution you on is if you are driving in yourself it can be hard to see the drive to enter the palace. I believe you will have a great time.

Christine was very informative about everything we asked and didnt know. It made the experience much better visiting.Make sure to visit the garden to to the side its very beautiful.we got here by Uber so its a little hard to find because when it says to turn you need to turn.

Tiny, but packed with history. To me, it was worth the $10 admission fee to see all the beautiful examples of Victorian woodworking and hear the history of the summer palace and the Hawaiian rulers.Amazing that the palace was brought from America (Bodton) designed in Greek Revivial architectural style, and assembled in Hawaii.That jumble of mixed cultural influences from all over the world is representative of items inside the house as well - lavish riches bestowed by rulers from all over to Queen Emma and her family during the 1800s.There is no gardens really, but there is a curated landscaping of fruit and flower trees that smells divine and was planted by Queen Emma or her family. Honestly the most fragrant place weve been on this side of Ohau.

Enjoyed the tour of Queen Emmas Summer Palace as well as learning a brief history about her and the royal culture. WoW!! You can definitely feel presence as you kick off your shoes on the wrap around porch, and wander through this lovely restored, royal home, just as the King&Queen did. The lands are also well maintained, peaceful and attached to a park with lush green grass, a small stream and huge sprawling Koa trees. Nice place for a picnic. Enjoy!

Enjoyed an impromptu tour and learned much about the royal family of Hawaii. Small palace with easy access.

Amazing. Going there and be able to walk around and see the things that Queen Emma use while she lived in that Palace was breathtaking seeing the history and the life was amazing price was a little too much for only getting five or six rooms worth Ewing but if you wait for the tour guide to walk you through it makes it worth it.

Neat little historical tourist attraction. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff. A bit small, really only takes about 15 minutes to see everything. Also spendier than we expected, think this was $10-$20 per adult

This is a quaint little place. There are a total of 6 rooms and the rooms have been decorated with historical artifacts. If possible try to avail of the free docent led tours. There tours are very informative indeed. You get to learn a lot about Hawaii and its rulers. There is a gift shop at the back of the main building. The gardens around the building are exquisite.

Hānaiakamalama (The Foster Child of the Moon), or Queen Emma Summer Palace, served as a retreat for Queen Emma of Hawaii from 1857 to 1885, as well as for her husband King Kamehameha IV, and their son, Prince Albert Edward.It is a now a historic landmark, museum, and tourist site located at 2913 Pali Highway, less than a ten-minute drive outside of downtown Honolulu, Hawaii.The museum is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and is maintained with entrance fees, revenue from the gift shop, and other funds raised by the Daughters of Hawaii

This is beautiful place to tour. Along with a history lesson you can see the house contents and the grounds. We enjoyed our time there. Do not forget to check out the gift shop.

Beautiful building and grounds, super cool historic furniture, feather standards and cloaks. We were handed some informative laminated sheets of paper that really made the furniture pieces come to life, and explained the history of the queen and her family.

Simply Amazing .......wedding ceremony to take place in front it old giant tree. Definitely a must see and consider your wedding there. Love it. Cal Kendra for more details.

So peaceful. Sometimes there are some sketchy people hanging around. But still, so peaceful

I cannot sing enough praise for this tourist spot. We missed the regularly scheduled tour but one of the workers jumped right in and gave us our own private tour. What a wonderful story this palace has and was so interesting to learn about. So glad we made time to stop here! While not a very large house when youre thinking palace, the story that goes along with it is fascinating.

The staff inside the house were very friendly, knowledgeable and engaging! My husband and I enjoyed our visit!

Neat artifacts, and the staff was very knowledgeable.

Loved visiting. Wonderful artifacts.

I havent been here since a field trip in the 5th grade. Liked it so much better than I remember. Funny how age makes you appreciate history and want to learn more. Our guide was very informative, injecting little story tidbits here and there. The palace is small, but very pretty with interesting artifacts. The koa furniture is breathtaking. A nice chill place to visit to learn a small piece of Hawaii.

Quaint place tucked in the trees, laden with fabulously beautiful antiques and history. Be prepared to remove your shoes. Get your ticket in the gift shop behind the main house.

Beautiful place, wonderful cultural history.

Really nice place. Lots of history. Staff really nice. Small location.

Pretty and historic home in the hills above Honolulu. $10 admission charge. Free parking. Great free guided tours really bring the home to life, discussing both the building and the Hawaiian royalty that lived here.

Great for learning some of the Hawaiian history. Not children friendly as it is a museum that is like an open house so if kids are prone to grabbing or picking things up, you were warned. And NO SHOES inside, its a historical house! (Sometimes they have a Japanese guide, so check ahead if you need).

Neat artifacts, beautiful grounds. an informative glimpse into a part of Hawaiian royal history.

Self- or guided tour. Interesting artifacts & descriptions. Short and sweet. Take your shoes off before entering--they have socks if youre uncomfortable barefooted.

What a great part of Hawaiis history. If you are staying in Waikiki or Honolulu in general I highly recommend this. The docent was very informative and tour was detailed. I enjoyed it very much! Best part was that you may take pictures! Always a plus in historic houses!

Wish it was easier to learn about the family didn’t learn a lot and there was not much to see.

A small museum but very nice place to escape for an afternoon from the city.

After you visit Iolani Palace, come here, small, less expensive, right off Pali Highway.

Interesting historical landmark. The docent is well versed in the history of Hawaiian royalty and lineage. A must see if you are interested in Hawaiis royal history.

A hidden gem and a fun place to learn more history about the Hawaiian royal family.

So peaceful when you go at the right time

Absolutely wo fearful tour. The gal was so knowledgeable and friendly. Thank you.

Nice stop...

Lovely grounds!

I have lived I Hawaii for over 40 years and this is the first time I have stepped foot at this amazing historical location. I regret not going before because I feel I really missed out. I almost dare to say that it is better then the Iolani Palace. There is a guided walking tour that really is full of amazing historical information and paints a complete picture of those that lived there and things that led up to their possessions and related historical facts that you just cant get out of a history book.You dont need much time there, but I would allow a total of 1.5 hours to fully enjoy. There is so much to see and study inside the house and the surrounding property is very beautiful with all the tropical landscaping.It is very inexpensive to visit and they do offer different discounts, but it is so inexpensive, it is almost unnecessary.Location is easy to get to, but parking might be a challenge depending on time and day of the week. There is a park just behind that has parking spaces and you can walk across the field to the site. It is a rainy area, so an umbrella might be a good idea just in case.

The grounds are gorgeous to walk around but only take 10 mins or so. Entrance into the Palace is 10 dollars or 8 for kamaaina. Ladies are friendly and will answer questions about the trees and groundsPlease give me a like!

Fabulous garden area, but small interior.

Another beautiful historic Hawaiian property. But very small. We only spent 45min total on the grounds.

ITS LONG! Docents here do NOT have Aloha spirit. When we arrived there were 3 of them chatting together right in the entrance. We saw a sign that we had to remove our shoes. My husband walks with a cane but there was a bench so he sat to remove his shoes. Then we stood to go in and they said we had to go around to the Gift Shop first. Sat and put shoes back on. Volunteer in Gift Shop had Aloha spirit and explained that the tour was $8 for seniors. Back to entrance again, removed shoes and joined 2:00 tour in progress. She was very knowledgeable and we enjoyed the tour. On leaving I asked the woman at the door if she would return the laminated sheets to the office. We ask you to do that. I told her I wasnt feeling well and handed them to her. I put on my shoes and turned to go. She stepped right in my path to talk to someone else and wouldnt move. I stepped around her.Not sure if these ladies were being deliberately rude or just stupid. Also, while my husband was waiting for me to get the tickets he overheard one women advising the others to not engage the visitors or ask any questions as their jobs were to get people out as quickly as possible .It still was interesting and I enjoyed the history!

An amazing historical place with fascinating stories of some of Hawaiis royalty.

One of the few places left to get a sense of old Hawaii. The array of royally owned antiques tell a fascinating story of the history of the monarchy.

Well kept place of history. A nice garden around.

One of my favorite stops. Love looking at the beautiful artifacts. The staff there are friendly and knowledgeable.

Excellent

Great! Tour guide was also fantastic.

Historic place of royalty. Suggest touring and then relaxing in the park behind. Theres a huge mango tree that makes for a yummy treat in the trees shade.

Lovely old home and collection for Queen Emma, beloved queen consort, humanitarian, and philanthropist who was active in the Hawaiian islands until the late 1800s.

Historical; informative; beautiful

The Queen Emma Summer Palace is not the most wheelchair accessible place, but once inside, the displays are very interesting. Outside, the gardens are impeccably maintained and are very beautiful. Well worth your time. I enjoyed a wonderful afternoon visiting the Queen Emma Summer Palace.

Beautiful walking museum. Lush gardens and incredible architecture abound. A great place to review the history of the area and the people.

Definitely do the tour if you can - the building is interesting but the context makes it fascinating! Prepare to take off your shoes, too. Lovely and inexpensive gift shop as well.

Very nice to see. I like to know details on things. Seeing this is better than a picture.

Beautiful older home.....the history is something else. I suggest taking the docent tour, very knowledgeable and friendly people. This was our 4th tour and still learned some new facts.

This museum is amazing

Decent wedding venue if you dont have too big of a group. Nothing to write home about but its Hawaii so you cant really go wrong

Must visit! Its one of those hidden treasures on the island. Our guide was very informative about Hawaiian Royalty, ( Queen Emma and her family). Beatiful artifacts on display!

Excellent guide and great history. Loved it

Beautiful grounds but missed the driveway, not a problem we just parked at the park behind the home at the next turn. The guide is so very knowledgeable

We visited on February 5 and the docent on duty was excellent. She was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic.

Wonderful history museum. Docents are very knowledgeable. Some lovely antiques especial the German breakfront. The capes were very impressive. Reading about them or looking at a photo doesnt do them justice.

Im so happy that this place is being preserved. Its a beautiful slice of History.

I Loved it, because its a beautiful place. But also because I learned some history, how the Good Ole USA failed to protect the Queen, after they PROMISED!!Hawaii is a Rocking Place, go visit and learn how THE ISLANDERS ROLL.

Very interesting to learn about

Very historical, great to visit, excellent gift store, jewelry, books, and art

This is a great stop if you are in the area. They have the most informative tour guides, and it is free! The tour itself was so amazingly comprehensive and verbose that I looked at my watch and we had been there over an hour listening to the history of the family - told through experience and the items in the home. Definitely recommended!

Informative; convenient

Little gem of Hawaiian history in a verdant garden setting. The palace and grounds speak of an older Hawaii, graceful and warm. Meant as a summer retreat, it retains that peaceful atmosphere while just a short distance from Honolulu.

We happened to get there on Keiki day so got a huge discount but because of that, no docent tours. Still you can ask questions to the other people working there. Lovely home. They make you take off your shoes before entering, which I like.

Extremely disappointed from visits in the past. Very commercialized, I felt. Visit the gift shop we were told. To make sure we paid admission I guess? Years past all the docents were dressed in white holoku. It was nothing special like years past. Flower arrangements were dead flowers. Not sure what has happened or whos in charge but you need to step up your game and bring Hawaii back to the palace. I brought guests who have never been and I expressed my disappointment of the changes to a couple of the ladies walking around. You could not feel the mana like I have felt every other time I have visited. The palace is not just a place or destination it is to transport us to another time. Very disappointed.

Beautifully maintained. Its a self guided tour; however, there is an attendant who has amazing Hawaiian (lineage and customs) knowledge.

Very historical and well-maintained. Lots of activities. Great gift shop

Reg PKHCC mtg. Excellent location, parking, facility, and access for presentations, demonstrations and sharing food. Mahalo.

Very nice need more labels on the actual items. Hard to connect names with photos. More description of the artifacts would also be nice.

Magical!! The gardens were breathtaking and enchanted.

Came here for a wedding... Ive lived here my whole life and never knew about the summer palace was open to da public.. Very beautiful, just try imagine how it was back in the 1800s... Im amazed

Of all the Royal (Ali’i) women, Queen Emma is the most beautiful. Emma’s Summers Place, is classic and simple in the old Royal Hawaiian way. A must see for all who are interested in Hawaiian culture and the Spirit of Aloha.

We arrived near closing time, but a guide offered to give us a detailed tour of the house. It was surprisingly interesting, and we learned a lot of history of Hawaii.

Small cozy palace with pieces that are over a hundred years old. We spent an hour there

Low key self-guided tour, but lovely home and gardens. Peaceful setting.

Nice portrait of Royal Family of Hawaii, well organized and very kind and professional guide personnel

A quick stop

Beautifully presented. The history is well documented.

Nestled above the business of Downtown Honolulu.... Queen Emmas summer palace is always a wonderful visit for me!! It shows the culture of Hawaii but also the heart of Queen Emma! Beautiful!

Great little museum in tribute to the Hawaiian monarchy

Honestly I was underwhelmed at what there was... It wasnt terrible but I could think of a dozen things Id have rather done

Beautiful place with a wide variety of displays.

Love this place! Historical, tucked away in a quite beautiful spot...cute gift shop!

By far the most comfortable carpet I have ever come across in my life. They let you roll around on it if thats what youre into. I was.

Lovely beautiful home. Its a quick visit though

Good smaller than I thought it would be though

Great history of Hawaiian monarch s.

Very interesting and nice place to visit.

We had a great experience with the sharing of stories by the volunteers. Learned so much, couple this with a visit to the palace and Bishop Museum and your appreciation of this culture and its rich history is complete.

Takes you back in time to an easier, quiet life. Gorgeous home, interiorand furnishings

Originally a four but the docent was so personable I uped it a notch. Small with a lot of history packed in. Get the tour or it will not be worth your time. The grounds are beautiful and host a wide variety of birds.

Im so thankful that this beautiful place would be the ending of my vacation. The people here are friendly, and willing to share every imformations about this house or Hawaiis history.The gift shop is just like another museum, all the products are beautiful and unique! I love the postcard which is made of koa.This is defiantly a place you have to visit if you interested to the old good things.(I took an hour in the palace, and another hour at the gift shop.)

This is a wonderful time capsule of Hawaiian royalty history

The guide had a lot of information and the house was well maintained. Worth the visit