URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTING AND GENERAL SERVICES AND THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO RESTORE RESPECT AND DIGNITY TO THE ONLY ROYAL PALACE IN THE NATION.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Diamond Garcia and 3 co-sponsors

Urges removal of asphalt and paid parking near Iolani Palace, replacing with historic landscaping; DAGS to deliver cost analysis before 2026 session; DLNR to restore grounds.

Referred to WAL, FIN, referral sheet 22

#historicsite #iolanipalace #preservation #restoration

Summary — HCR 166 (2025)

Title: Urging the Department of Accounting and General Services and the Department of Land and Natural Resources to restore respect and dignity to the only royal palace in the nation (Iolani Palace)

Classification: Concurrent resolution
Status (as of record): Referred to WAL and FIN; adopted by both chambers and filed with the Secretary of State (passed in May–June 2025)
Related bill: HR 161 (companion)

Purpose / Intent

HCR 166 expresses the Legislature’s intent that the State take steps to restore the historic setting of ʻIolani Palace — the only royal palace in the United States where a reigning monarch lived — by removing an existing asphalt parking blacktop, parking area, and paid parking located adjacent to the palace grounds and replacing them with historically appropriate landscaping.

Key provisions

Urges the Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS) to:

Submit to the Legislature, no later than 20 days before the convening of the 2026 regular session, a cost analysis and any proposed legislation (if necessary) for removing the blacktop, parking area, and paid parking adjacent to ʻIolani Palace.

Directs that upon removal of the blacktop/parking, the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) shall:

Develop and maintain replacement grounds that reflect, as much as possible, the original palace grounds landscape using photos from the Hawaii State Archives as a guide.

Requests that certified copies of the concurrent resolution be transmitted to:

The Comptroller (DAGS), the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), and the Executive Director of the Friends of ʻIolani Palace.

Who is affected

State agencies: DAGS (property management/cost analysis) and DLNR (landscaping and maintenance responsibilities).

Friends of ʻIolani Palace (notified stakeholder).

Visitors, residents, and businesses near the palace: potential changes to parking availability, visitor access, and circulation.

Historic and cultural stakeholders, particularly Native Hawaiian and host-culture interests.

Procedural / timeline aspects

DAGS deadline: submit cost analysis and any proposed legislation no later than 20 days prior to the 2026 regular legislative session.

The resolution is non‑binding policy guidance — it urges and requests agency action and information rather than enacting statutory requirements or appropriations.

Potential implications (practical)

Removal would eliminate on‑site paid parking and associated revenue streams; may require alternate parking/traffic plans.

Costs for demolition of paved areas and historic landscaping/long‑term maintenance will need to be estimated and may require subsequent legislation or appropriations.

Cultural and historic benefits: restoration of a more historically authentic setting for ʻIolani Palace.