The Royal Hawaiian Band (free concerts)

Founded in 1836 by King Kamehameha III, the Royal Hawaiian Band is older than the state itself and is now run by the City and County of Honolulu. Catch a free concert most Fridays from noon to 1 p.m. on the ʻIolani Palace grounds, where it plays "Hawaiʻi Ponoʻi," the state song written by King Kalākaua with bandmaster Henri Berger.

• Founded 1836 by Kamehameha III.
• Henri Berger, a Prussian bandmaster loaned to the kingdom in 1872, led the band for decades and is called the father of Hawaiian music.
• "Hawaiʻi Ponoʻi" (King Kalākaua with Berger) was the kingdom's anthem and is the official state song.
• Free concerts: most Fridays, noon to 1 p.m., ʻIolani Palace grounds (King and Richards streets, downtown Honolulu). The band also often plays Sunday afternoons at the Kapiʻolani Park Bandstand in Waikīkī.
• No smoking or vaping on the palace grounds. Check rhb-music.com for the current schedule and cancellations.

Sources: ʻIolani Palace: Royal Hawaiian Band concerts · Wikipedia: Royal Hawaiian Band

Last checked Nov. 1, 2026. Hours, fees and rules can change, so confirm with the official source before you go.