Aliʻiōlani Hale facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Aliʻiōlani Hale
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Aliʻiōlani Hale is today the home of the Hawaiʻi State Supreme Court and the statue of Kamehameha the Great.
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 Location in Hawaii
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| Location | 417 King Street, Honolulu, Hawaii |
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| Built | 1871–1874 |
| Architect | Thomas Rowe, Robert Stirling |
| Architectural style | Italian Renaissance Revival |
| Part of | Hawaii Capital Historic District (ID78001020) |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000414 |
| Added to NRHP | February 2, 1972 |
Aliʻiōlani Hale is a famous building in downtown Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. Today, it is where the Hawaiʻi State Supreme Court meets. Before that, it was the main government building for the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi and the Republic of Hawaiʻi.
Right outside the building, you can see the well-known gold-leaf statue of Kamehameha the Great.
Contents
Building a Royal Government Center
Aliʻiōlani Hale was designed by an architect named Thomas Rowe from Australia. It was planned to look like an Italian Renaissance palace. King Kamehameha V wanted it to be his royal home.
In the Hawaiian language, Aliʻiōlani Hale means "House of Heavenly Kings." This name was also one of King Kamehameha V's own names.
From Palace to Government Hub
Even though it was first planned as a palace, King Kamehameha V soon realized something important. The Hawaiian government really needed a proper building. At that time, the government offices in Honolulu were small and crowded. They were not big enough for the growing needs of Hawaiʻi.
So, King Kamehameha V decided to change the plan. He ordered Aliʻiōlani Hale to be built as a government office building instead of a palace.
Construction and Dedication
King Kamehameha V officially started the building's construction on February 19, 1872. He placed the first stone, called the cornerstone. Sadly, he passed away before the building was finished.
The building was finally completed and opened in 1874. King David Kalākaua, one of Kamehameha V's successors, dedicated it. At the time, some people in Hawaiʻi thought the building was too fancy. They even suggested it should still be turned into a palace, as first planned.
Until 1893, Aliʻiōlani Hale was a very busy place. It held most of the Hawaiian government's main offices. This included the offices that handled laws, the lawmakers, and the courts.
A New Era for Hawaiʻi
In 1893, a group called the Committee of Safety took action from Aliʻiōlani Hale. Led by Lorrin A. Thurston, they announced that Queen Liliʻuokalani was no longer the ruler. This event changed Hawaiʻi's government.
After this, a new temporary government was set up in 1893. Then, the Republic of Hawaiʻi was formed in 1894. Some government offices, like the lawmakers, moved to ʻIolani Palace. Because of this, Aliʻiōlani Hale became mainly a building for the courts and legal work.
Aliʻiōlani Hale Through the Years
Even after Hawaiʻi became a United States territory in 1900, the government kept growing. This meant the building still faced problems with space.
Renovations and Additions
In 1911, Aliʻiōlani Hale had a big renovation. The inside of the building was completely redone. This gave it a new layout. Since the building was first designed as a palace, its original layout wasn't ideal for courtrooms and offices. The new design fixed this problem.
The government continued to expand. In the 1940s, a new section was added to the building. The architects tried to make this new part blend in with the older, original building from the 1870s.
Current Use and History Center
Over many years, most of the state's court functions moved out of Aliʻiōlani Hale. They went to other buildings in Honolulu. Today, Aliʻiōlani Hale is home to the Hawaiʻi State Supreme Court. It is also the main office for the Hawaiʻi State Judiciary, which manages the state's courts.
The building also has the Judiciary History Center. This is a museum where you can learn about Hawaiʻi's legal history. It has a restored old courtroom and other exhibits. Aliʻiōlani Hale also holds Hawaiʻi's largest law library.
A Hidden Time Capsule
In December 2005, something exciting was found. A capsule that King Kamehameha V buried when he laid the cornerstone was located. It was found using special radar. The capsule held interesting items like photos of royal families, the Hawaiian Kingdom's constitution, old Hawaiian money, newspapers, and books. It was left in place to protect the building's structure.
Nearby Historic Sites
Aliʻiōlani Hale is one of many important buildings in downtown Honolulu listed on the National Register of Historic Places. You can walk to other historic places nearby, such as the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace, the Hawaiʻi State Capitol, the Hawaiʻi State Library, Honolulu Hale, ʻIolani Palace, Kawaiahaʻo Church, the Territorial Building, and Washington Place.
King Kamehameha V Judiciary History Center
The King Kamehameha V Judiciary History Center is located inside Aliʻiōlani Hale. It teaches visitors about Hawaiʻi's legal past and important court cases. You can visit the exhibits for free from Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM. Group tours can also be arranged by making a reservation.
See Also
In Spanish: Aliiolani Hale para niños
