Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii
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The Royal Mausoleum, known as Mauna ‘Ala in the Hawaiian language, is the final resting place of Hawai'i's two prominent royal families: the Kamehameha Dynasty and the Kalakaua Dynasty. The site is located at 2261 Nuuanu Avenue in Honolulu, Hawai'i on the island of Oahu. Many Hawai‘i residents consider the Royal Mausoleum one of the most sacred burial sites in the islands. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
The grounds of the mausoleum are surrounded by a black fence, bearing the royal seal at the gate. A small chapel is located near the center, immediately behind the tomb of Kalākaua and his family, and to the right of the Kamehameha tomb, Bishop Monument, and Wyllie tomb.
The 2.7 acre (11,000 m²) mausoleum was built by Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma as a burial site for their deceased four-year old son, Prince Albert. The mausoleum was completed in 1865. It was decided that the mausoleum was a more fitting place to bury past monarchs of the Kingdom of Hawaii and their families. The bodies were transferred in a solemn ceremony leading from Iolani Palace to the Nuuanu Valley.
Today, Queen Kaahumanu, Kamehameha II and Queen Victoria Kamamalu, Kamehameha III, Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma, Kamehameha V, David Kalakaua, Queen Liliuokalani, and various princes and princesses rest at the Royal Mausoleum. Kamehameha the Great and William C. Lunalilo are the only two kings not resting at the mausoleum. Kamehameha the Great's remains were hidden (a traditional practice to preserve the mana of the ali‘i) while William C. Lunalilo, who preferred to be buried in a church cemetery, rests in the courtyard of Kawaiahao Church near Iolani Palace.
Mauna ‘Ala was removed from the public lands of the United States by a joint resolution of Congress in 1900.
 Chapel. |
 Kamehameha Dynasty Tomb. |
