Many alii (royalty) were gifted singers, musicians and composers.
For example, Queen Liliuokalani, Hawaii’s last ruling monarch, played the guitar, piano, organ, ukulele and zither and composed more than 165 chants and songs, the best known being the haunting “Aloha Oe.”
Every month, Hulihee Palace presents a free concert to honor a different alii and/or historical figure (bring a chair or beach mat if you prefer not to sit on the grass).
The schedule is as follows: January, King Lunalilo and renowned hula dancer Iolani Luahine; February, Princess Ruth Keelikolani; March, Queen Kaahumanu and Prince Kuhio; April, Prince Albert Edward; May, King Kamehameha IV; June, King Kamehameha I; Hawaii island Governor John Adams Kuakini; August, King Kamehameha III; September, Queen Liliuokalani; October, Princess Kaiulani; November, King Kalakaua, former palace curator Lei Collins and former palace bandmaster Charles “Bud” Dant; and December, Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop.
On the National Register of Historic Places, the oceanfront palace was formerly a summer vacation home for the alii and safeguards precious artifacts such as tapa, featherwork and Hawaiian quilts.