Queen Emma Summer Palace

Queen Emma was a consort of Kamehameha IV and her summer palace is now open to the public as an historic house museum. Emma was three-quarters royal Hawaiian and a quarter English. She was a granddaughter of the captured British sailor John Young, who became a friend and adviser to Kamehameha I. The house is also known as Hanaiakamalama, the name of John Young's home in Kawaihae on the Big Island, where he served as governor.

The Youngs left the luxurious home to Queen Emma, who often slipped away from her more formal downtown home to spend time at this retreat - a bit like an old Southern plantation house - columned porch, high ceilings and louvered windows catching the cool breeze. Forgotten after Emma's death in 1885, the home was to be razed in 1915, because the estate was being turned into a public park. The Daughters of Hawaii, whose members are descendants of early missionaries, rescued it and now operate it as a museum.The interior looks much as it did in Queen Emma's day - decorated with period furniture collected from five of her homes, including a koa cabinet displaying a set of china from Queen Victoria; Emma's tiger-claw necklace, a gift from a maharaja of India; and feather cloaks and capes once worn by Hawaiian royalty.To get here, take bus 4 (Nu'uanu Dowsett Ave) from Waikiki, or bus 55, 56 or 57 from the Ala Moana Center. Be sure to let the bus driver know where you're going, so you don't miss the stop. If driving, the palace is at the 2-mile marker of the Pali Hwy (Hwy 61).