ʻIolani Palace is the only official royal residence in the United States. The last king of Hawaii was David Kalakaua, who ruled the kingdom in the late nineteenth century. Hawaii became an American territory in 1900 and, almost 60 years later, was declared the 50th American state.

At Gantheaume Point you can view dinosaur footprints at low tides: they are believed to be more that 130 million years old. Here you can also witness the vivid red sandstone cliffs spilling into the sea. Relax in Anastasia’s Pool – a natural sea bath, modified by a former lighthouse keeper, to make it easy for his wife, Anastasia, to access. Anastasia suffered badly from arthritis and found relief in the warm water of the Indian Ocean which filled the pool at high tide. The man-made structure has been largely destroyed by a storm in 2014, but the romantic story keeps touching the hearts of locals and visitors alike.

The entrance to the park is a short walk along Castle Street, to the left of the castle. The gardens have their own walled parapet that features incredibly life-like stone animals including a bear, lion, hyena, monkeys and a pelican. The park runs alongside the River Taff and has great views of the castle and its moat – it even has a miniature Stonehenge!