Kapuaiwa Building
Encyclopedia
The Kapuāiwa Building at 426 Queen Street in the Capital Historic District
of Honolulu, Hawaii
, was built in 1884, during the reign of Kalākaua
, originally to provide fireproof safekeeping for government documents. It was named for Lot Kapuāiwa, who had reigned as Kamehameha V
, and its architect, George Lucas, employed an Italianate Renaissance revival style that matched that of the other Hawaiian Monarchy buildings of that period. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
on 2 July 1973.
Built of rusticated
concrete blocks, it is two stories high, with a flat roof and a recessed central entrance on the Queen Street side. The arched windows have keystone
s on the ground floor and dripstones on the upper level, and the roofline is decorated with a cornice
and balustrade. In 1930, a new wing and entry corridor were added and the interior was renovated. The interior is currently undergoing further renovations.
Hawaii Capital Historic District
The Hawaii Capital Historic District in Honolulu, Hawaii, has been the center of government ever since the earliest days of the unified Hawaiian Kingdom.-Location:...
of Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
, was built in 1884, during the reign of Kalākaua
Kalakaua
Kalākaua, born David Laamea Kamanakapuu Mahinulani Nalaiaehuokalani Lumialani Kalākaua and sometimes called The Merrie Monarch , was the last reigning king of the Kingdom of Hawaii...
, originally to provide fireproof safekeeping for government documents. It was named for Lot Kapuāiwa, who had reigned as Kamehameha V
Kamehameha V
aloghaKamehameha V , born as Lot Kapuāiwa, reigned as monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii from 1863 to 1872. His motto was "Onipa`a": immovable, firm, steadfast or determined; he worked diligently for his people and kingdom and was described as the last great traditional chief...
, and its architect, George Lucas, employed an Italianate Renaissance revival style that matched that of the other Hawaiian Monarchy buildings of that period. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on 2 July 1973.
Built of rusticated
Rustication (architecture)
thumb|upright|Two different styles of rustication in the [[Palazzo Medici-Riccardi]] in [[Florence]].In classical architecture rustication is an architectural feature that contrasts in texture with the smoothly finished, squared block masonry surfaces called ashlar...
concrete blocks, it is two stories high, with a flat roof and a recessed central entrance on the Queen Street side. The arched windows have keystone
Keystone (architecture)
A keystone is the wedge-shaped stone piece at the apex of a masonry vault or arch, which is the final piece placed during construction and locks all the stones into position, allowing the arch to bear weight. This makes a keystone very important structurally...
s on the ground floor and dripstones on the upper level, and the roofline is decorated with a cornice
Cornice
Cornice molding is generally any horizontal decorative molding that crowns any building or furniture element: the cornice over a door or window, for instance, or the cornice around the edge of a pedestal. A simple cornice may be formed just with a crown molding.The function of the projecting...
and balustrade. In 1930, a new wing and entry corridor were added and the interior was renovated. The interior is currently undergoing further renovations.