Fodor's Expert Review Queen Emma Summer Palace

Queen Emma, King Kamehameha IV's wife, used this small but stately New England–style home in Nuuanu Valley as a retreat from the rigors of court life in hot and dusty Honolulu during the mid- to late 1800s. Guided tours highlight the residence's royal history and its eclectic mix of European, Victorian, and Hawaiian furnishings, most of which are original to the home. There are excellent examples of feather-covered kahilis, umeke (bowls), and koa-wood furniture. Visitors also learn how Queen Emma established what is today the largest private hospital in Hawaii, opened a school for girls, and ran as a widow for the throne, losing to King Kalakaua. A short drive away, you can visit the Royal Mausoleum State Monument, where she, her husband, and their son, Albert, who died at age four, are buried beside many other Hawaiian royals. Guided tours are offered Tuesday through Saturday by appointment.