23. Statue of King Kamehameha Directly in front of Ali'iolani is the statue we see here of Kamehameha the Great. It was commissioned by the Legislature in 1878, exactly 100 years after Captain James Cook discovered Hawaii. It was to be a "heroic statue in bronze," a "Commemorative Monument of the Centennial of Discovery." T.R. Gould, a Boston artist, completed the statue the next year. On its way to Hawaii, however, the ship carrying it sank near the Faulkland Islands. A duplicate was ordered, but before it was completed, the original was recovered from the sea and shipped here to Honolulu. Following repairs, it was sent to the Big Island for a memorial at Kamehameha's birthplace. The duplicate is the one we see here (there is now a second duplicate in Washington, D.C.). The statue was dedicated by King Kalakaua in 1883. With this event and others, Kalakaua hoped to revitalize the native Hawaiian population. Since Captain Cook's discovery and the influx of westerners, the population had been decimated by diseases from which Hawaiians had no immunities. The population at the time of Capt. Cook's discovery was about 300,000. At Kalakaua's dedication of the statue the population was down to only 44,088. Kalakaua's efforts were in vain, and just ten years later the monarchy came to an abrupt end. The 8'-6" statue is made of burnished bronze. The cloak that represents the traditional feather cloak worn by royalty is gilded in gold. Each side of the base depicts an important event in Kamehameha's life -- his meeting with Capt. Cook, his prowess in battle, his war fleet upon attempting to conquer Kauai, and a humanitian act as ruler. 24. Territorial Office Building 25. Hawai'i State Library The State Library was built in 1911-13. It was one of about 2,000 libraries constructed during the same period with gifts from American industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. This Graeco-Roman style building has served as the principal library in Hawaii ever since. It was closed for about a year for major repairs and refurbishing just a few years ago. 26. City Hall -- Honolulu Hale Probably not many city halls look as out of fashion as this. But this building, as dwarfed as it may seem in comparison to newer highrise buildings not far away, is appreciated for its history and style. It is a building that everyone can feel comfortable in, and public events are held there often. One such event is the annual Christmas tree lighting and display that is both indoors and outdoors. The tower is clearly in view as we approach from the left and pass by the front. As we pass the front and look back, we have probably one of the best views of City Hall. Least attractive in views of the building are the cars parked directly in front of the building. It always looks as though they're parked on the sidewalk in front of the main entry. 27. Kawaiahao Church With the exception of the mission houses that we'll visit right after this, the Kawaiahao Church predates all of the buildings on the tour. In 1842, five years after construction was begun, the church was dedicated, replacing four thatched roof buildings used for worship. The church at that time had no steeple and clock. Known as "The Great Stone Church," it is unique probably not so much because of its age, size, and rock solid appearance, as because of the way it was constructed. 14,000 blocks chiseled from living coral reef, each block weighing about half a ton, were hand cut 10 to 20 feet under water, lifted, then transported to the church site. Mortar predating modern cement was made from coral that was ground into a powder and burned. Gigantic trees in northern Oahu were cut down, floated to Kaneohe on the windward side of the island, and carried by teams of men over the Pali trail that was too crude and treacherous even for simple wagons. Construction of the church required heroic efforts of hundreds of people year after year until it was finished. When it was completed it had cost $20,000. Compared to this, $350,000 for Iolani Palace about 40 years later probably did seem like a lot. Kawaiahao Church is on both the State and National Registers of Historic Sites. Evidence of the important guardian role the church played in early Hawaiian life are the contents of its corner stone -- a copy of the bible in Hawaiian, a volume of mathematics in Hawaiian, a book of anatomy in Hawaiian, a map of the Hawaiian Islands, and books on surveying, geometry, and navigation. Statehood ceremonies were held at the church in August of 1959. 28. Mission Houses Museum Next to the Kawaiahao Church and across a little side street is the Mission Houses Museum, a Registered National Historic Landmark. This is the headquarters of the American Protestant missionaries in Honolulu that was established in 1820. It includes three mission houses constructed between 1821 and 1841. Because the houses were built at different times and to serve different purposes, the houses are different in style and construction. The house shown at the right is Hale Kamalani, the home of Levi Chamberlain, the mission's business agent. This house actally faces a side street -- South King Street runs along the left side. Behind Hale Kamalani and facing South King is Hale La'au shown in the lower photo. This is the oldest home on the site and the oldest wood framed house still in existence in Hawaii. Like some other missionary homes of the time, it was shipped from Boston and erected here in Hawaii. In 1820, of course, there was no Panama Canal, so this house actually went around Cape Horn. At the mission station the house was occupied by three missionary families at a time, along with visitors, sick and dying sailors, and others. Tucked between the two houses is a third, Hale Pa'i. It's constructed of coral rock cut from the ocean reef and wood salvaged from a sunken whaling ship in Honolulu Harbor. This is the home of the Mission Press, where the first written Hawaiian language was printed. Thatched roof houses were also located at the mission station, but only the three more permanent buildings remain. To the right of Hale Kamalani is a newer-built visitor center that includes a ticket booth and information center, restrooms, and a museum store. 29. Across the Street Across the street from the Mission Houses Museum and next to the city hall is the City Hall Annex. This brick building with its Ionic columns is another sign of the mainland-Colonial influence in Hawaii. 30. Municipal Building 31. Imperial Plaza on Kapiolani Boulevard Toward the end of Kapiolani where it ends at King Street is Imperial Plaza on the left. This is one of the newer highrise business and residential complexes in Honolulu. It's coppery architectural glass is quite distinctive. Honolulu has many new highrise buildings. Unlike many mainland cities that are struggling to stem the tide of outward migration of business and residence, Honolulu's downtown is thriving. Some of the most expensive and sought-after condominium residences are located downtown. 32. Historic Brewery A block closer to the ocean is this building on Queen Street. The old Honolulu Malt and Beverage Building was (and still is) undoubtedly the most impressive brick building in Hawaii. Built in the very early 1900's, although this may sound not all that old to those of you from the mainland U.S. and Canada and even moreso from Asia and Europe, for Hawaii it's very old. Keep in mind that most Hawaiians were living in thatched roof homes at that time. 33. Federal Court Building Your patronage of our sponsors is appreciated. YOUR 500 x 50 PIXEL AD HERE