Treat yourself like a King! Intern in Hawaii’s first royal palace. Learn Hawaiian history from the top down with this exciting position in one of Hawaii’s great cultural landmarks. After a training session, work with the public to interpret Hawaii’s unique history in the 1880’s when the palace was built to house King Kalakaua and Queen Lili’uokalani.
The palace was both a residence and served the function of hosting dignitaries from around the world.
Concerned about the loss of native Hawaiian culture and traditions, Kalakaua encouraged the transcription of Hawaiian oral traditions, and supported the revival of and public performances of the hula, which had been banned by the missionaries earlier in the century. The Merrie Monarch Festival, a week-long festival of hula and Hawaiian culture, is held every year in his honor.
Located in the heart of Honolulu, this placement allows the intern to feel the pulse of this vibrant city. A major attraction for visitors from around the world, the Palace is one of the most celebrated locales in all of Hawaii.
This position focuses primarily on interpretation of the Palace to visitors. However, there is also the option of conducting original research on Hawaiian history as well as on collecting oral histories from the living Hawaiian community.