Iolani Palace
King David Kalakaua
King David Kalakaua was called the Merrie Monarch, he earned the
nickname "the Merrie Monarch," because of his love of the joyful
elements of life. He also had a technical side to him as well. He
studied science and he was very curious about the new technical
inventions of the day. In Kalakaua's time gas lamps or candles were
the main source of light at night. In the late 1870's electricity
was the hottest topic in new technology. Kalakaua having heard
about this new type of energy wanted to know more. He could see the
potential for electricity to the Kingdom. In 1881, King Kalakaua
left Hawaii on a trip around the world to study the matter of
immigration and to improve foreign relations. He also wanted to
study how other rulers ruled.
The King traveled to San Francisco, the Empire of Japan, China,
Siam, Burma, India, Egypt, Italy, Belgium, the German Empire,
Austria-Hungary, the French Third Republic, Spain, Portugal, the
United Kingdom and Ireland and back through the United States
before returning to Hawaii. On his visit to the United States while
he was in New York, Kalakaua met with Thomas Edison the inventor of
the incandescent lamp. He found out more about electricity and its
practical application in lighting.
Kalakaua wanted to see a practical demonstration of electric
lighting. With the help of Charles Otto Berger, a Honolulu-based
insurance executive with mainland connections a demonstration of
electric lighting was setup. It was to take place at Iolani Palace
on the night of July 26, 1886. The Pacific Commercial
Advertiser wrote this about it; "Shortly after 7 o'clock last
night, the electricity was turned on and, as soon as darkness
decreased, the vicinity of Palace Square was flooded with a soft
but brilliant light which turned darkness into day... by 8 o'clock
an immense crowd had gathered. Before 9 o'clock, the Royal Hawaiian
Military band commenced playing and the Military Companies soon
marched into the square... a tea party was given under the auspices
of the Society for the Education of Hawaiian Children organized by
her Royal Highness the Princess Liliu'okalani and Her Royal
Highness, the Princess Likelike. The Palace was brightly
illuminated, and the large crowd moving among the trees and tents
made a pretty picture."
The King was impressed and wanted to have the palace lit by
electric light. Kalakaua had an electrical system installed on the
palace grounds. The dynamo that powered the incandescent lamps was
powered by a small steam engine. Iolani Palace became the world's
first royal residence to be lit by electricity on Kalakaua's
birthday, November 16, 1886. This was five years before the White
House in Washington D.C. got electric light. He didn't stop with
just lighting Iolani Palace. Plans were laid to use a water powered
turbine to power lights in Honolulu. Princess Kaiulani, Kalakaua's
niece turned on the first lights in Honolulu on the night of March
23, 1888. The Honolulu Gazette wrote; "At 7:30 p.m. the
sound of excitement in the streets brought citizens, printers,
policemen and all other nocturnal fry rushing outdoors to see what
was up. And what they did see was Honolulu lighted by electricity.
The long looked for and anxiously expected moment had arrived."
There was no stopping it, in 1889 the first few homes and
businesses had electricity and by 1890 almost 800 homes were
enjoying electric lighting.
This is now a nano sized cache, all it has is a tiny roll log.
You will need to bring your own pen or pencil. Stealth will be
required as there are lots of muggles in this area. Please put
everything back just the way you found it. This is my first hide,
hope you enjoy it.
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 Beware of Muggles!
 Historic Site
 Kid Friendly
 Bring a pen or
pencil |
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