Top Things to do in Hawaii
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The 10 Best Government Buildings in Hawaii, United States
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1. Mission Memorial Building
2. Hawaii State Art Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 142 reviews
Contemporary art of Hawaii and free, family-friendly events! 2nd floor of the No. 1 Capitol District Building, 250 South Hotel Street, Honolulu, Hawaii, 96813. Admission is free. Museum Hours: Monday-Saturday 10am to 4pm. Open late First Friday of each month, 6pm - 9pm (galleries close at 8:30pm). Closed Sunday and all state and federal holidays. All artwork on display has a connection to Hawaii (e.g. artist born or raised in Hawaii). Parking available across the street in the Ali'i Place parking structure (entrance at 1099 Alakea St, cash only) or at Iolani Palace (metered parking, 25 cent coins only). Several TheBus lines stop in front of or close to the building. If you are taking a taxi cab, there is a small pull in area on Richards St. Wheelchair access from the Richards St. entry gate, on the Richards St. side of the building.
Reviewed By gbot3000 - Vancouver, Canada
I ended up spending a few hours here viewing the two exhibits. The descriptions of the art are top-notch and make each piece more thought-provoking. Also, free admission!
3. U.S. Army Schofield Barracks
4. Washington Place
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 18 reviews
Reviewed By Good_Food_Lover77 - Lihue, United States
Plan ahead because there is a bit of security at this historic house that used to be the Governor's Mansion. We went with a group that booked this very informative tour with the lady that had actually written a book about how and when the house was built, including why it became where the last Hawaiian Royalty lived, then many Hawaiian Governors. It has been beautifully restored and worth the trouble to learn all about it in person.
5. Judiciary Building
6. Hawaii State Capitol
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 153 reviews
Reviewed By MdTravelerX2 - Silver Spring, United States
The architecture of the capital building is unique and exemplifies Hawaii. The art and symbolism portrayed in both the house and senate chambers is beautiful and thoughtful. The historic koa wood used throughout the building is beautiful. Everyone we met was welcoming and helpful. Well worth the time to visit.
7. Territorial Office Building
8. Dillingham Transportation Building
9. Honolulu Hale (City Hall)
10. Ali'iolani Hale
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 133 reviews
Originally intended as a royal residence, the historic Aliiolani Hale was reconfigured to house government offices when Iolani Palace was constructed. Today, it’s still the home of Hawaii’s Supreme Court.
Reviewed By interceptpubs - Columbus, United States
While today this impressive Italian Renaissance Revival structure is home to the state's Supreme Court and other offices of the state's judiciary branch, it was designed originally to be a king's palace, specifically the palace for King Kamehameha V. However, when the plans arrived in 1871 from the Australian architect who drew them up, it was decided that what the country really needed was a building to house the state's legislature and courts. The palatial plans were modified for this purpose and construction undertaken in 1872. Besides being an architectural triumph, the building was also something of an engineering marvel being constructed of a then relatively new building material described as “infinitely superior for both durability and ornament,” concrete blocks. As they have survived with no signs of deterioration for well over a century, the claim has proven very true. Under the supervision of Australian stone masons and with the addition of local convicts to bolster the ranks of the construction crew, the building was completed in two short years. For the next two decades, the building housed not only the courts and legislature but also much of the kingdom's executive department. It even housed the country's first national museum and served as an observatory for the 1874 transit of Venus. Ali'iolani Hale was also the focal point of the movement to overthrow the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893. The instigators of the revolution took over the building and stationed their troops here to counter the loyalist forces protecting the Queen in Iolani Palace across the street. After the establishment of the Republic of Hawaii, the legislature moved to the palace, renamed the "Executive Building," and this building became the "Judiciary Building," a function that it still serves to this day. We visited Ali'iolani Hale along with Iolani Palace across the street recently. The exterior of the building, including the lovely courtyard and its statue of King Kamehameha I, is certainly beautiful (especially compared to rather nondescript modern state capitol building a couple blocks away). We didn't have time to go inside which isn't too big of a loss as it was gutted and completely rebuilt around 1911 so isn't original anyway - however, if you are interested in the judiciary history of the state, there is a museum inside that might be worth taking in. If history or architecture isn't your thing, the building may still be of "cultural" interest as it served as the Hawaii Five-0 headquarters in the old '70s TV series.
