Iolani School was founded in 1863 after King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma set out to establish an Anglican Church in Hawaii.  The school’s origins are rooted in a few small schools - Iolani College, St. Alban’s College, and Bishop’s College - formed during Hawaii's monarchy days.  The following timeline chronicles the evolution of Iolani School's campuses.

1927 - In September 1927, Iolani School opened on a five-acre Nuuanu campus where 278 boys, including 32 boarders, were enrolled.  The athletic field bordered Nuuanu Stream and, while 400 feet long, was still not wide enough for official football games.  Some of the buildings were Staley Hall, Iaukea Hall and Willis Hall.

1938 – The cozy Iolani campus was lush with trees, cooled by the mists of Nuuanu.  But foreseeing that Iolani would eventually outgrow this location, The Right Rev. Samuel Harrington Littell and Headmaster the Rev. Albert H. Stone purchased a plot on the Ala Wai Canal in 1938 for $112,000.  World War II intervened before construction could begin on the new campus.  The property was leased to the Unites States Army Engineering Department.

1946 -  On November 12, 1946, Iolani began classes for the first through sixth grades at the Ala Wai campus in buildings erected by the Army.  Seventh through twelfth grade classes continued at the Nuuanu campus.

1953  - Iolani had completely relocated to the 25-acre Ala Wai site.
The campus had some new buildings, but many acres lacked grass and greenery.  The land was barren. 

1954 - St. Alban’s Chapel was completed.

1956 - In 1956, A fundraising drive for $296,000 was embarked upon to build a primary building and a student center. The gymnasium was an old wooden building and the library was housed in a Quonset hut.

1957 –  Feb. 11, 1957 the kindergarten and primary buildings were dedicated.  It was built at cost of $58,000.  The third to fifth grades were still housed in converted Quonset huts. 

1959  - May 1959, the Student Center was completed and dedicated.

1960 – The dormitory was converted into apartments for faculty. 

1961 -  In the fall of 1961, plans for new buildings were completed.

1962 -  By the end of January 1962, the contract was signed to construct physical education facilities, a new gymnasium, a six-lane pool, six tennis courts, locker rooms and improvements to the track facilities. In October 1962, the athletic complex was dedicated with the Most Rev. Geoffrey Francis Fisher presiding.

1963 – In September 1963, Headmaster Burton MacLean announced plans for new Lower School Buildings and additional buildings in Upper School. 

1965 – May 1, 1965, the former military warehouses in the Lower School that had served as classrooms were razed and construction began.  Until the completion of that work, the Lower School classes moved into the newly constructed gym. 

1966 - January 1966, the Lower School moved into new two story structure with 15 classrooms, a library, administrative offices, a locker and shower room, and an outdoor recreation area.

In August 1966, construction began in the Upper School for a two story building with 10 classrooms, a library complex on the upper level with two rooms for special lectures, faculty study room, a language lab, a 154-seat amphitheater. 

1967 - Dedication of Lower and Upper School additions took place on May 13, 1967.

1973 – Castle Foundation donated land in Windward Oahu valued at $17.2 million to Iolani School.

1974 – Construction for the art building begins with dedication taking place in November 1975.

1976 - Construction begins on the Royal Iolani and a two-story school building.  The two story building was ready for occupancy in 1979 and was dedicated in 1980 and named the Harold K. L. Castle Building.  It provided for the music department on the first floor, ensemble rooms for orchestra, band and chorus, three air-conditioned practice rooms, offices, college counseling and business offices, bookstore, and 11 classrooms on the second floor.

1979 – Construction began on the Father Kenneth A. Bray Athletic Complex. 

1981 - The Father Kenneth A. Bray Athletic Complex was dedicated on June 24, 1981. 

1987 – Masao Nangaku purchased some of Iolani’s Windward Oahu property for $10 million to build a golf course in 1987.  This money allowed for planning another building project.

Iolani named its track and field after retired Iolani athletic director Eddie Hamada ’46 in a 1987 ceremony.

1988 -  Masao Nangaku presented a check for $2 million, and construction began for the two-story classroom and administrative office.  It was called the Masao Nangaku Building.  Construction also began on the Physical Education/Dance Building, and an Olympic-size swimming pool.

1989 - The Masao Nangaku Building and Father Bray complex, new weight room and greenhouse were dedicated on March 3, 1989. 

1991 – Ai Building was constructed for Lower School to house second grade, a religious education room and a large music facility.  The building was funded by a $1 million gift made in 1990 by David Ai in memory of his parents, Chung Kun Ai and Chun Shiu Shee.

2002 – On May 9, 2002, Iolani broke ground for phase I of the Building Futures plan. 

2003 - The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Building and Kozuki Stadium are dedicated.