Most Americans grow up learning about European royal families, from the British monarchy to the kings and queens who shaped the history of countries like France and Spain. But what many don’t realize is that Hawaii was once its own sovereign kingdom before it become a U.S. state, and there’s still a royal palace right in O‘ahu.

During a recent visit to Honolulu’s ʻIolani Palace, I found myself standing in rooms that challenge the assumptions travelers make about Hawaii. Beyond the beaches, luaus and pineapple drinks lies the story of a nation that once had its own monarchs, government and global relationships. Walking through the palace’s grand halls—and later, the room where Queen Liliʻuokalani was imprisoned—gave me a powerful reminder that Hawaii’s royal history is far more recent and more complex than many Americans realize.

ʻIolani Palace historian Zita Cup Choy tells Marie Claire that understanding Hawaii was once an independent nation fundamentally changes the visitor experience. That being said, Iolani Palace, built in 1882, serves as “both a royal residence and a place where a nation’s history, dignity and loss are held,” Cup Choy says.

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Queen Liliʻuokalani was the Hawaiian kingdom’s last monarch, and she was imprisoned for nearly eight months in the palace after being illegally overthrown by a coup of American businessmen in 1893. “The overthrow was carried out by a small group with significant economic and political power, despite broad opposition among Hawaiian Kingdom subjects,” says Cup Choy.

June 23, 2026, 6:00 PM HST

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – One of Hawaii’s sweetest partnerships is returning with a larger footprint this year.

In celebration of National Pineapple Day and Dole’s 125th anniversary, residents who donate blood on Friday, June 26, will receive a free fresh Dole pineapple while supplies last.

The effort is a collaboration between Dole Food Company and Blood Bank of Hawaii aimed at boosting donations during a time of year when blood supplies traditionally decline.

According to Blood Bank of Hawaii, donations typically drop by about 15% during the summer months, even as hospitals continue to rely on a steady stream of lifesaving blood products every day. Organizers say all blood types are needed, with a particularly urgent demand for O-type blood, platelet donations, and AB plasma.

The campaign also comes during a milestone year for Dole.

The company is celebrating 125 years of pineapple history, commemorating the fruit that helped shape Hawaiʻi’s agricultural identity and introduced generations around the world to the islands’ pineapple legacy.

This year, blood donors will receive not only a pineapple, but commemorative Dole-branded anniversary gifts while supplies last.

National Pineapple Day recognizes a fruit often called the “fruit of kings.” Though pineapples originated in South and Central America, they became deeply intertwined with Hawaiʻi’s history after James Dole established commercial pineapple operations in the islands in the early 1900s. Today, Dole continues operating facilities in Wahiawā while promoting initiatives centered around nutrition and community wellness.

Unlike previous years, organizers are expanding the giveaway to every Blood Bank of Hawaii donor center and mobile drive location participating on Friday.

Donation sites include:

Young Street Donor Center

1907 Young Street, Honolulu

6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Waikele Center

94-849 Lumiaina Street, Waipahu

7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Windward Mall

46-056 Kamehameha Highway, Kāneʻohe

9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Hyatt Regency Waikiki

2424 Kalākaua Avenue, Honolulu

9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Pearlridge Center

98-1005 Moanalua Road, ʻAiea

Noon to 6 p.m.

Appointments are strongly encouraged and can be made through Blood Bank of Hawaii’s website or by calling (808) 848-4770.