'Iolani Palace is back to "business as usual," Executive Director Kippen de Alba Chu said yesterday, less than a week after an attempted takeover.

The grounds are open to the public and regular tours of the palace itself have resumed. However, special events might be canceled, including popular Kama'aina Sundays, when free tours are offered on the first Sunday of each month, and the celebration of Queen Lili'uokalani's birthday next month.

"The board is yet to discuss whether or not we'll be having these events because of the risk involved," security manager Tony Nahoi said yesterday.

"If we will be having the events, I will add at least six more security personnel, the Department of Land and Natural Resources will have their enforcement division involved, and we'll most likely hire extra manpower from a private security company," Nahoi said.

Last Friday's attempted takeover occurred on Statehood Day — marking when Hawai'i officially became a state in 1959 — but it is not clear if the intruders intentionally picked the occasion.

"Those historical events might act as an emphasis on acting out on those days, but who knows," Nahoi said.

Twelve guards and state police officers were visible outside the palace yesterday afternoon.

"Our main concern is to assure the staff and visitors we are here to assist them," Nahoi said. "Every area has portable radios, and we held a meeting to review the notification process if volunteers see anything out of the ordinary."

"As long as we look comfortable, the guests will feel the same," de Alba Chu said.

Before special events can be held, "We need to work on a security plan and the insurance policy. Normally we work with a coalition which obtains an issued insurance policy for the event. We might be dealing with not being able to obtain those policies because insurance companies don't like risk," de Alba Chu said.

Before the incident, the palace had an average of two guards at night. They have doubled that and have backup from the state's Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement, DOCARE, part of the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

De Alba Chu planned to add security guards, too.

"We will be upgrading our security and do have the funds available. The cost of the additional perimeter officers from DOCARE has not affected our normal operations budget," he said.

Nahoi, 68, has been the security manager of 'Iolani Palace for three years; before that he was security manager of Bishop Museum for 16 years. He felt Friday's attempted takeover was the most intense situation he'd ever had to deal with.

"The funny part about this whole thing is that when we opened our doors again, I was told by several people. 'I'm glad you're open.' People really just want us to be open to the public," he said.