Iolani Palace

The only royal palace on American soil sits right on King Street in downtown Honolulu, and it's honestly one of the most powerful history lessons you'll get in Hawaii. King Kalākaua built this place in 1882, and it had electricity and telephones before the White House — pretty impressive for island royalty. The self-guided audio tour takes about an hour and lets you move through the throne room and royal quarters at your own pace, hearing stories of Queen Liliʻuokalani's imprisonment after the illegal overthrow. You'll wear shoe covers to protect the original 1880s furnishings, and every room feels frozen in time. The massive banyan trees on the grounds are worth the visit alone, and there's often free performances in the garden around noon.