Queen Emma's Summer Palace

The Queen Emma Summer Palace does not surprise in its display of the luxury enjoyed by the family of King Kamehameha IV, but its depiction of Hawaiian royalty as accessible makes it an exceptional museum.

After inheriting the property from her uncle in 1857, Queen Emma, husband Alexander Liholiho (the fourth king of the Kingdom of Hawai'i), and son Prince Albert used the home as a retreat during hot summer months. The home is now a museum that houses many of Queen Emma's belongings and furnishings, and thereby offers a glimpse into the private life of the royal family.

Both the front and back bedrooms, for example, feature objects indicative of family life. The front bedroom holds Prince Albert's cradle, constructed of four native Hawaiian woods and now considered a state treasure. Also in this bedroom is Prince Albert's bathtub: made of porcelain and held in a koa wood stand, this opulent tub was a gift to the family from a Chinese emperor.

Perhaps most poignant are articles in the back bedroom that once belonged to the little prince who died at age four. These include a small velvet suit and a tiny fireman's jacket preserved in a display cabinet.

The spacious area at the rear of the home, the Edinburgh Room, contains the royal cabinet, a wedding gift from Prince Albert and Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom to King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma. This room also exhibits what is called the King Kamehameha IV chair, which is made of red velvet and is an early version of a recliner.

The grounds currently consist of approximately two of the original 65 acres that had belonged to Queen Emma. The many varieties of flora found here include kukui and 'ōhi'a lehua trees as well as shrubs of roses. A stream runs through the property, providing constant movement through the hau trees that grow in the area.

The Queen Emma Summer Palace in its role as museum preserves the historical personal artifacts associated with the rule of King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma. What makes the property truly remarkable, however, is its ability to convey the royal family's dual identities of king, queen, and prince as well as father, mother, and son.

- Allison Uchima