Royal Mausoleum State Monument

Photo Credit: Hawaii State Archives

**IMPORTANT PARK NOTICES**

Monitor local surf and weather reports before your park

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[KAUAʻI] - UPDATE 3/21/25: Pā‘ula‘ula State Historic Site - Due to construction improvements, the park closure will begin starting March 24 until further notice.

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[OʻAHU] - UPDATE 3/18/25: Mauna ʻAla, Royal Mausoleum State Monument will be undergoing improvements that may temporarily prevent vehicular access. Please check the Royal Mausoleum State Monument website for updates.

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[OʻAHU] UPDATED 3/18/25 – Diamond Head State Monument (DHSM): Full Park Closures will occur Tuesdays through Fridays beginning April 1 to April 11 and also Monday through Thursday April 14 to April 17. Partial Park Closures Hours with operating hours from 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM will occur on Monday April 7 during this time, and will resume from April 21 onwards Monday through Friday, (except weekends and holidays). Normal Park Hours from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM will resume during Spring Break March 17 to March 28, Good Friday Holiday on April 18, and Weekends. During Partial Park Closures Hours from 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM, the last reservation time slot for Parking and Entry and Entry Only will be 12:00 p.m. If you reserved at 12:00 p.m., you must enter the Park no later than 12:30 p.m. or you will be denied entry. The project began January 6, 2025, and will run to July 25, 2025, or upon completion of the rock fall mitigation construction project at the Kahala Tunnel. Please check back for updates.

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[MAUI] UPDATE 3/4/25 - Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area: Beginning April 1, 2025 through April 30, 2025 the park, cabin campgrounds and access road to Polipoli Forest Reserve will be closed due to tree mitigation work.

Royal Mausoleum State Monument

[OʻAHU] - UPDATE: 3/18/25 - Mauna ʻAla, Royal Mausoleum State Monument

Beginning mid-April to May, Mauna ʻAla will be undergoing improvements that may temporarily prevent vehicular access. Please check the Royal Mausoleum State Monument website for updates.
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For questions, please call the Royal Mausoleum State Monument Mauna ‘Ala Curator at 808-636-8452. Mahalo.

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Hours	8:00 am to 4:30pm Monday – Friday Saturday & Sunday and Holidays Closed. Access may be available by Special Use Permit (SUP).
Entrance Fee	None

Hours

8:00 am to 4:30pm

Monday – Friday

Saturday & Sunday and Holidays Closed. Access may be available by Special Use Permit (SUP).

Entrance Fee

None

Description

The Royal Mausoleum State Monument – Mauna ‘Ala, is the burial place of Hawaiian royalty. This sacred site is comprised of tombs with members of the Kamehameha and Kalākaua Dynasties with their retainers, a historic chapel, several historic trees, and a Curator’s cottage.

Helpful Information

Huaka’i: visiting Mauna ‘Ala

While Mauna ‘Ala is open daily for public visitation, it is highly recommended that the public contact the Curator in advance of a huaka’i. Doing so helps maintain the sanctity of Mauna ’Ala by avoiding overlapping of visitors and potential vehicle parking impacts. There are prearranged huaka’i on specific dates that have been scheduled for the grounds of Mauna ‘Ala by Special Use Permit (SUP).

· A group greater than 25 individuals requires a SUP.

· A group of 25 individuals or less does not require a SUP, but contacting the Curator is still recommended.

For more information or to request an SUP, please contact the Curator by email: doni.l.chong@hawaii.gov or by cell phone @ 808-636-8452

Improvements to Mauna ʻAla

The Division of State Parks has initiated three projects between mid-April to early May on the grounds of Mauna ʻAla, the Royal Mausoleum State Monument in Nuʻuanu.

Preserving a 155-year Old Cast Iron Fence

Repair the rusting and deteriorating elements of the 155-year-old ornamental wrought and cast ironwork fence and gate installed in 1869 and 1870 along the property boundary facing Nuʻuanu Avenue. The fence has been repaired multiple times over the ensuing decades to conduct rust control and replacing missing or broken fence pieces.

Protecting Queen Emma’s Kamani Tree

Realigning a segment of the basalt curbstone adjacent to the historic kamani tree planted by Queen Emma growing at the entrance to the Mauna ʻAla grounds. The realignment will allow the tree’s root system additional unpaved ground to optimize and sustain the support the large tree branches arching over the entrance and eliminate the damages from roots to the curbstone. The kamani tree was planted approximately the time the iron fence was installed, and the curbstone was constructed sometime before 1903. Concrete curbing on the opposite side of the driveway will also be realigned to preserve the symmetry and appearance of the entry way.

Platform Relocation at the John Young Tomb

Relocation of the John Young Tomb viewing area from the makai side of Tomb to the Ewa side. The new viewing location is more accessible for those, particularly the elderly, who come to honor John Young and his family with lei, hoʻokupu, and song or chants. Objects located at or near the current viewing area will be moved to the new location, including the pūloʻuloʻu, waterworn boulders and plaque transcribing tomb inscription. The current viewing area will be dismantled. Young’s concrete tomb was constructed in 1866 when he was buried there with his second wife, Kaʻoʻanaʻeha, and son James Kānehoa. The stone platform and the four concrete cannons surrounding the tomb were installed around 2000 to help protect the Tomb. Young was afforded this honor as a key military advisor to Kamehameha I and commander of Kamehameha’s cannons in their conquest of the islands. Young is also the grandfather of Queen Emma.