ʻIolani Palace
From 1975 to 1998, Bartels served as the curator and later managing director of ʻIolani Palace. During his twenty-year career, he headed the final phase of the palace restoration and saw the return of many priceless artifacts. He resigned after a dispute with Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawānanakoa, the President of the Friends of ʻIolani Palace, who is said to have sat on one of the two thrones in the museum for a photograph in "Life" magazine.