Hawaiis Lost Riches

On the Hawaiian island of Oahu is a remarkable building, the Iolani Palace. Built in 1882 by King Kalakaua, it is the only royal residence ever to stand on American soil. But when a group of young sugar barons took over the Hawaiian government and deposed the royal family in 1891, the palace was ruthlessly stripped of its treasures and a large part of Hawaii's heritage seemed lost forever. Among the artifacts stolen were diamonds from the queen's bedroom, china, silver and crystal from the palace dining hall, and the royal crowns. HAWAII'S LOST RICHES tells how, in 1964, a group called The Friends of the Iolani Palace formed with the intention of tracking down and recovering the long-lost treasures of Hawaii's royal past. Through their tireless efforts, over 3,000 authentic heirlooms have been retrieved from across the U.S. and around the world. While their efforts cannot undo the injustice of long ago, the home of Hawaii's last king and queen once again shines brilliantly in the island sun, and the recovered artifacts help tell the story of a unique kingdom that stood on the cusp of different worlds.

• documentary