Aliiolani Hale (House of Heavenly Kings), Honolulu

House of Heavenly Kings stands as a prominent structure in downtown Honolulu and currently houses the Hawaii State Supreme Court. It is historically significant as the former administrative headquarters of the Kingdom of Hawaii. The building was designed by Australian architect Thomas Rowe in the Italian Renaissance Revival style and was originally intended to serve as the royal palace for King Kamehameha V.

However, during Kamehameha V’s reign, plans changed for practical reasons. Recognizing the need for a suitable government facility in Honolulu, as the existing buildings were too small for the growing Hawaiian government, he redirected the purpose of House of Heavenly Kings from a palace to a government office building.

On February 19, 1872, Kamehameha V laid the cornerstone for the structure. Unfortunately, he died before its completion, and the building was dedicated in 1874 by his successor, King David Kalākaua. Interestingly, the building’s elaborate design drew criticism from Hawaiian newspapers at the time, prompting suggestions that it should be used for its original purpose as a palace.

In 1893, House of Heavenly Kings played a pivotal role in Hawaiian history as the site where the overthrow of Queen Liliʻuokalani was proclaimed. The Committee of Safety, led by Lorrin Thurston and supported by U.S. Marines, removed the queen from power. Today, House of Heavenly Kings is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and houses the King Kamehameha V Judiciary History Center.