A Treat For Royalty

Iolani Palace in Honolulu is one of the most beautiful historical old buildings I have seen. I still have my admission tickets.

King David Kalakaua, the last King of Hawaii, built the new palace in 1882 after demolishing the old palace in 1874.

Influenced by European architectural styles, this royal residence included Hawaii’s first electric light system, flush toilets and intra-house telephones. The rich interior features a beautiful koa wood staircase, portraits of Hawaiian royalty, furniture and royal gifts and ornaments from around the world.  It also has an American Florentine-style throne room, reception and dining room.

You can view the private living quarters of the royal family. On the basement level, view the ancient regalia of Hawaiian royalty, from swords and precious jewelry to the two golden crowns of the King and Queen. On the spacious grounds of the palace, see the Iolani Coronation Pavilion, where in 1883, Kalakaua was crowned king.

Queen Liliuokalani, the kings sister and successor, was deposed and the Hawaiian monarchy overthrown in January 1893. A provisional U.S. government was established. The Hawaiian Islands were eventually annexed as a United States Territory in 1898. Hawaii became the 50^th state in 1959 and during this time Iolani Palace was used as the capitol building until 1968.
 
Government officials carefully inventoried its contents and sold at public auction whatever furniture, or furnishings, were not suitable for government operations.

Government offices vacated the Palace in 1969 and moved to a newly constructed capitol building on land adjacent to the Palace grounds. 

Restoration of the Palace began in earnest.

In preparation for restoration, the Junior League of Honolulu funded and staffed an extensive historical research project. Researchers uncovered clues about construction, furnishings, and palace lifestyle from nineteenth-century newspapers, photographs and manuscripts found in various archives and libraries.
Overseeing the restoration was  The Friends of Iolani Palace, founded by Mrs. Liliuokalani Kawananakoa Morris, grandniece of Queen Kapiolani. This organization continues to manage Iolani Palace as an historic house museum and to share the history of the Hawaiian monarchy.

Many original Palace objects sold and dispersed at public auction have been recovered from different parts of the world – glassware found in Australia, and a table in the Governor’s mansion in Iowa to a chair in a local thrift store. The quest to find original Palace furnishings and artifacts continues. Many original furnishings are still missing. 



Pineapples in Hawaii are very popular. Here is one of my recipes that would make any Royal happy!!!


Pineapple Upside-down Cake

Ingredients
  
440g can pineapple slices in juice
One third of a cup brown sugar 
90g butter, softened 
Half a cup caster sugar 
2 eggs, lightly beaten 
One and a quarter cups self-raising flour, sifted

Method 

  

Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease a round ring baking tin. Line base with baking paper.

Drain pineapple, reserving 2 tablespoons juice. Cut pineapple in half. 

Sprinkle brown sugar over lined base of baking tin.  Arrange pineapple on top of brown sugar.

Using an electric mixer, beat butter and caster sugar for 3 minutes or until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition.

Stir in flour and reserved pineapple juice until well combined. Spread mixture over pineapple. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the cake comes out clean. 

Stand in pan for 5 minutes. Turn out onto a wire rack to cool.

Serve with fresh whipped cream. Yummy!