Historic Hulihe'e Palace on the Big Island of Hawai'i, the most seriously damaged of Hawai'i's three royal palaces from Sunday's earthquakes, was deemed unfit for use, Civil Defense officials decided yesterday morning.

Images of the exterior and interior damage to Hulihe'e Palace were broadcast around the world, and the palace has become a symbol of Sunday's 6.7- and 6.0-magnitude earthquakes that knocked out power to most of the 50th state.

Meanwhile, 'Iolani Palace on O'ahu, where Hawai'i's last reigning monarch relinquished the Islands to the United States in 1893, suffered minor interior cracks, palace officials said yesterday. Queen Emma Summer Palace, also on O'ahu, was spared any damage.

Also yesterday, state Civil Defense officials said 10 Big Island homes have been destroyed by the earthquakes, 152 more suffered major damage and 1,475 had minor damage. State officials were citing data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

FEMA defines a destroyed home as one that is a total loss or isn't financially feasible to repair, according to state Civil Defense. A home with major damage is uninhabitable and requires extensive repairs. Minor damage means a home is uninhabitable but can be inhabited shortly with repairs.

Another 176 Big Island homes have been "affected," meaning they have minor damage and can be inhabited without repairs.

Big Island and state Civil Defense officials still have no cost estimates for the damages to the 1,537 homes.

Some Big Island facilities were returning to normal yesterday.

Officials with the long-term-care facility Hale Ho'ola Hamakua yesterday said the remaining 41 patients who had been evacuated moved back in.

Residents are now in the dining/activity and rehabilitation rooms until permanent repairs are made to residential areas.

Hale Ho'ola Hamakua sustained about $4.5 million worth of damage during the quakes when pipes broke and the hospital was flooded. Some 49 people were evacuated nearby to a former clinic that had been renovated into classrooms.

The Red Cross yesterday continued to provide quake-related aid.

American Red Cross workers have looked at 5,000 homes in Honoka'a, Waikoloa, Waimea, Hawi, Kawaihae and Kapa'au and continue to seek residents whose homes are uninhabitable and who may qualify for Red Cross assistance.

Residents who believe they may qualify for assistance or who have other questions regarding their personal situation can call the Red Cross hot line toll-free at (877) 377-5053.

Red Cross officials said recent calls to that hot line reflect some confusion about the roles played by Red Cross and the Federal Emergency Management Agency in determining whether FEMA benefits will be made available to residents.

Officials said Red Cross benefits are available to people whose homes are destroyed or uninhabitable, while FEMA uses different criteria in determining whether assistance will be provided.

The earthquakes damaged each of the six rooms of the two-story Hulihe'e Palace, which was built out of stone.

The palace welcomes 300 to 500 visitors each day in the Kailua, Kona, area of the Big Island.

David Scott, executive director of the Daughters of Hawaii, which runs the palace, estimated the cost of repairs at $1 million and vowed to restore the palace.

A handful of historic artifacts inside the palace, such as Queen Kapi'olani's writing desk, also were damaged from falling plaster and moldings. The entire exterior also needs to be replastered.

Hulihe'e Palace is listed on both the state and national historic registries.

"We got national recognition and have gotten calls from all over the country," Scott said. "We hope it will enhance fund-raising opportunities."

Reach Dan Nakaso at dnakaso@honoluluadvertiser.com.