Things to do in Honolulu, Hawaii (HI): The Best Architectural Buildings

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.