Hawaii Capital Historic District
Encyclopedia
The Hawaii Capital Historic District in Honolulu, Hawaii
, has been the center of government ever since the earliest days of the unified Hawaiian Kingdom.
at its core, the historic district reaches inland across Beretania Street to include the buildings and grounds of Washington Place
and St. Andrew's Cathedral
; crosses Richards Street to include the former Armed Services YMCA Building, YWCA Building
, and Hawaiian Electric Company Building; crosses Queen Street on the seaward side to include State Tax Office Building; and reaches across Punchbowl Street to include the buildings and grounds of Kawaiahao Church and Mission Houses below King Street and the city government core of Honolulu Hale
and the Mission Memorial Building and Annex above King Street. Its architectural styles range from 19th-century adaptations of New England homes, through the Italianate
Renaissance Revival and Neoclassical
edifices of the Monarchy, through the Beaux Arts and Mission Revival inspirations of the Territory
. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1978, after the nearby Chinatown Historic District and Merchant Street Historic District
had already been added.
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
, has been the center of government ever since the earliest days of the unified Hawaiian Kingdom.
Location
With the grounds of Iolani Palace and the Hawaii State CapitolHawaii State Capitol
The Hawaii State Capitol is the official statehouse or capitol building of Hawaii in the United States. From its chambers, the executive and legislative branches perform the duties involved in governing the state...
at its core, the historic district reaches inland across Beretania Street to include the buildings and grounds of Washington Place
Washington Place
Washington Place is a Greek Revival palace in the Hawaii Capital Historic District in Honolulu, Hawaii. It was where Queen Liliuokalani was arrested during the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Later it became the official residence of the Governor of Hawaii. It is a National Historic Landmark,...
and St. Andrew's Cathedral
Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew, Honolulu
The Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew, also commonly known as St. Andrew's Cathedral, is a cathedral of the Episcopal Church in the United States located in the State of Hawaii...
; crosses Richards Street to include the former Armed Services YMCA Building, YWCA Building
YWCA Building (Honolulu, Hawaii)
The YWCA Building at 1040 Richards Street, Honolulu, Hawaii, popularly called the Richards Street Y, is now officially named Laniākea, which means 'open skies' or 'wide horizons' in the Hawaiian language. It was designed by San Francisco architect Julia Morgan, who considered it one of her favorites...
, and Hawaiian Electric Company Building; crosses Queen Street on the seaward side to include State Tax Office Building; and reaches across Punchbowl Street to include the buildings and grounds of Kawaiahao Church and Mission Houses below King Street and the city government core of Honolulu Hale
Honolulu Hale
Honolulu Hale , located on 530 South King Street in downtown Honolulu in the City & County of Honolulu, Hawaii, is the official seat of government of the city and county, site of the chambers of the Mayor of Honolulu and the Honolulu City Council.In the Hawaiian language, hale means house or building...
and the Mission Memorial Building and Annex above King Street. Its architectural styles range from 19th-century adaptations of New England homes, through the Italianate
Italianate architecture
The Italianate style of architecture was a distinct 19th-century phase in the history of Classical architecture. In the Italianate style, the models and architectural vocabulary of 16th-century Italian Renaissance architecture, which had served as inspiration for both Palladianism and...
Renaissance Revival and Neoclassical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
edifices of the Monarchy, through the Beaux Arts and Mission Revival inspirations of the Territory
Territory of Hawaii
The Territory of Hawaii or Hawaii Territory was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 7, 1898, until August 21, 1959, when its territory, with the exception of Johnston Atoll, was admitted to the Union as the fiftieth U.S. state, the State of Hawaii.The U.S...
. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1978, after the nearby Chinatown Historic District and Merchant Street Historic District
Merchant Street Historic District
The Merchant Street Historic District in Honolulu, Hawaii, was the city's earliest commercial center.-Location:Bounded roughly by Fort Street at the southeast end and Nuuanu Avenue at the northwest, its older, low-rise, brick and stone buildings, surrounded by contemporary, concrete high rises,...
had already been added.
Contributing Properties
A total of 20 buildings and structures contribute to the district:- Hawaii State CapitolHawaii State CapitolThe Hawaii State Capitol is the official statehouse or capitol building of Hawaii in the United States. From its chambers, the executive and legislative branches perform the duties involved in governing the state...
(1969) and grounds - Kawaiahao Church and Mission Houses and grounds, including Lunalilo's Tomb (1876) and adobe schoolhouse (1835)
- Washington PlaceWashington PlaceWashington Place is a Greek Revival palace in the Hawaii Capital Historic District in Honolulu, Hawaii. It was where Queen Liliuokalani was arrested during the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Later it became the official residence of the Governor of Hawaii. It is a National Historic Landmark,...
(1846) and grounds - St. Andrew's CathedralCathedral Church of Saint Andrew, HonoluluThe Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew, also commonly known as St. Andrew's Cathedral, is a cathedral of the Episcopal Church in the United States located in the State of Hawaii...
(1867) and Tenney Hall - Iolani Barracks (1870)
- Aliiolani HaleAliiolani HaleAliiōlani Hale is a building located in downtown Honolulu, Hawaii, currently used as the home of the Hawaii State Supreme Court. It is the former seat of government of the Kingdom of Hawaii and the Republic of Hawaii....
(1874) - Iolani Palace (1882) and grounds, including the Old Archives Building (1906) and old mausoleum mound (1825)
- Iolani Palace Bandstand (1883)
- Kamehameha StatueKamehameha StatueSeveral Kamehameha Statues honor the monarch who founded the Kingdom of Hawaii.-Gould's work:One stands prominently in front of Aliiolani Hale in Honolulu, Hawaii. The statue had its origins in 1878 when Walter M. Gibson, a member of the Hawaiian government at the time, wanted to commemorate the...
(1883) - Kapuaiwa BuildingKapuaiwa BuildingThe Kapuāiwa Building at 426 Queen Street in the Capital Historic District of Honolulu, Hawaii, was built in 1884, during the reign of Kalākaua, originally to provide fireproof safekeeping for government documents...
(1884) - Hawaii State LibraryHawaii State LibraryThe Hawaii State Library is a historic building in the City & County of Honolulu that serves as the seat of the Hawaii State Public Library System, the only statewide library system and one of the largest in the United States. The Hawaii State Library building is located in downtown Honolulu...
(1913) - Honolulu Hale Annex (1916)
- U.S. Post Office, Customhouse, and Courthouse (1921)
- King David Kalakaua BuildingKing David Kalakaua BuildingThe King David Kalakaua Building in Honolulu, Hawaii is a government building formerly known as the U.S. Post Office, Customhouse, and Courthouse...
(1922) - State Office BuildingTerritorial BuildingThe Territorial Building is a government building of the Territory of Hawaii.-Description:The building is located at 425 South King Street in downtown Honolulu, Hawaii....
(1926) - YWCA BuildingYWCA Building (Honolulu, Hawaii)The YWCA Building at 1040 Richards Street, Honolulu, Hawaii, popularly called the Richards Street Y, is now officially named Laniākea, which means 'open skies' or 'wide horizons' in the Hawaiian language. It was designed by San Francisco architect Julia Morgan, who considered it one of her favorites...
(1927) - Hawaiian Electric Company Building (1927)
- Armed Services YMCA (1928)
- Honolulu HaleHonolulu HaleHonolulu Hale , located on 530 South King Street in downtown Honolulu in the City & County of Honolulu, Hawaii, is the official seat of government of the city and county, site of the chambers of the Mayor of Honolulu and the Honolulu City Council.In the Hawaiian language, hale means house or building...
(1929) and grounds - State Tax Office (1939)