Art and culture in Honolulu

Art and Culture Highlights

Honolulu’s cultural landscape spans royal history and contemporary expression. Explore 'Iolani Palace, the only royal palace on U.S. soil, and the Greek Revival architecture of Washington Place. The district features significant monuments like the King Kamehameha the Great and Queen Lili'uokalani statues. Artistic venues include the Capitol Modern, showcasing local works, and the Kumu Kahua Theatre, which focuses on Hawaiian narratives. Historical sites like the Mission Houses and the Judiciary History Center offer insights into the legal and social evolution of the islands.

Art and Culture Highlights — Map

WPPilot / CC BY-SA 3.0

A

Iolani Palace

The ʻIolani Palace was the royal residence of the rulers of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi beginning with Kamehameha III under the Kamehameha…

B

Hawaii State Art Museum

The Capitol Modern Museum, formerly named the Hawaii State Art Museum, is a small art gallery located on the second floor of the No. 1…

Surfsupusa / Public domain

C

King Kamehameha the Great Statue

Several Kamehameha statues honor the monarch who founded the Kingdom of Hawaii.

CaesarGJ / Public domain

D

Washington Place

Washington Place is a Greek Revival palace in the Hawaii Capital Historic District in Honolulu, Hawaii.

original miniature credited to… / Public domain

E

Washington Place

Washington Place is a Greek Revival palace in the Hawaii Capital Historic District in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi.

Travis.Thurston / CC BY-SA 3.0

F

Hawaii Mission Houses Museum

The Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives in Honolulu, Hawaii, was established in 1920 by the Hawaiian Mission Children's…

G

King Kamehameha V Judiciary History Center

Located within the historic Aliʻiōlani Hale, this center features exhibits on Hawaii’s legal history, the evolution of the judicial system from the monarchy to the present, and landmark court cases.

Michelle Harding / CC-BY-SA

H

Queen Lili'uokalani Statue

This bronze statue honors Hawaii's last reigning monarch. It stands between the Hawaii State Capitol and Iolani Palace, depicting the Queen holding the 'Kumulipo' (creation chant) and the 1887 Constitution.

I

Spalding House

The Honolulu Museum of Art Spalding House, formerly The Contemporary Museum, Honolulu, was integrated into the Honolulu Museum of Art under…

J

Kumu Kahua Theatre

Founded in 1971, this theatre company performs in a historic post office building. It specializes in plays written by local playwrights that explore the culture and history of the Hawaiian Islands.

K

Honolulu Police Department Museum

Located in the Hale Maka'i police headquarters, this museum displays historical artifacts, photographs, and equipment documenting the history of law enforcement in Honolulu since the era of the monarchy.

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