Prince Kuhio Federal Building
Encyclopedia
The Prince Kūhiō Federal Building, formally the Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaole Federal Building and United States Courthouse, is the official seat of the United States federal government
and its local branches of various agencies and departments in the state of Hawaii
. Its address is 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, Honolulu, Hawaii 96850.
The building was completed in 1977 with a total of 929857 square feet (86,386.5 m²) of working space.
It houses the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii
. the United States Attorney for the District of Hawaii
, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
(Honolulu Division), the offices of Hawaii's U.S. Senators
, the offices of Hawaii's U.S. Representatives
for Hawaii's 1st congressional district
and Hawaii's 2nd congressional district
, and branch offices of the United States Secret Service
, Department of Homeland Security, United States Department of Justice
, Central Intelligence Agency
, Federal Bureau of Investigation
, Internal Revenue Service
, Department of Veterans Affairs
, among other entities.
The building was named after Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaole
, heir to the throne of the overthrown Kingdom of Hawaii
, who served as Republican
territorial delegate
to the United States Congress
from 1903 through 1922.
It was built on part of the former US Army Fort Armstrong, which was named for Samuel C. Armstrong
(1839–1893), son of Hawaiian missionaries.
Across Ala Moana Boulevard is the Aloha Tower
at the Honolulu harbor
. Other parts of Fort Armstrong became a container terminal for military supplies.
The Prince Kūhiō Building was constructed to replace the aging Federal Court, Customs House and Post Office building fronting Iolani Palace and adjacent to Aliiōlani Hale
which had been built in 1922 and expanded in 1931. After being mostly vacant, the old building was renovated and put up for sale. The old building was given back to the state of Hawaii and was renamed the King David Kalākaua Building
in December 2003.
Construction of the Prince Kūhiō Federal Building was not without controversy. The General Services Administration
wanted a simple tall office tower, while local architechts argued for a building more appropriate to Hawaii.
Statutes provided that all buildings between the shoreline and the foot of Punchbowl Crater
could not be taller than the Hawaii State Capitol
. The federal government, not legally limited by local statutes, defied the statutes and constructed the building as the tallest structure in the path of the capitol building's view of the shoreline. The complex includes ten stories of offices (including a penthouse level), connected by an enclosed bridge to a six story courthouse building (including basement).
The Prince Kūhiō Federal Building was designed by Joseph G.F. Farrell's firm Architects Hawaii. Other government buildings designed by the firm include the capitol building of Palau
, which opened in 2006.
The building was selected for $121 million of renovations as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
. The plan is to make the building more efficient by upgrading its mechanical, electrical, fire-safety, and plumbing systems.
It had already been cited as an efficient building by the Energy Star
program.
Traces of asbestos
were discovered during the first phase.
The second phase of construction was approved in March 2011.
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
and its local branches of various agencies and departments in the state of Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. Its address is 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, Honolulu, Hawaii 96850.
The building was completed in 1977 with a total of 929857 square feet (86,386.5 m²) of working space.
It houses the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii
United States District Court for the District of Hawaii
The United States District Court for the District of Hawaii is the principal trial court of the United States Federal Court System in the state of Hawaii. It is located at the Prince Kuhio Federal Building in downtown Honolulu, fronting the Aloha Tower and Honolulu Harbor. The court hears both...
. the United States Attorney for the District of Hawaii
United States Attorney for the District of Hawaii
The United States Attorney for the District of Hawaii — also known as the United States Attorney and U.S. Attorney — is the chief law enforcement officer representing the Federal Government of the United States and principal authority of the United States Department of Justice in the...
, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is a U.S. federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* District of Alaska* District of Arizona...
(Honolulu Division), the offices of Hawaii's U.S. Senators
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, the offices of Hawaii's U.S. Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for Hawaii's 1st congressional district
Hawaii's 1st congressional district
Hawaii's 1st congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The district encompasses the urban areas of the City and County of Honolulu, a consolidated city-county that is coextensive with the island of Oahu. The district includes Oahu's central plains and southern...
and Hawaii's 2nd congressional district
Hawaii's 2nd congressional district
Hawaii's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The district encompasses all rural and most suburban areas that are part of the City and County of Honolulu, which covers all of the island of Oahu...
, and branch offices of the United States Secret Service
United States Secret Service
The United States Secret Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency that is part of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The sworn members are divided among the Special Agents and the Uniformed Division. Until March 1, 2003, the Service was part of the United States...
, Department of Homeland Security, United States Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
, Central Intelligence Agency
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
, Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
, Internal Revenue Service
Internal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue...
, Department of Veterans Affairs
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs is a government-run military veteran benefit system with Cabinet-level status. It is the United States government’s second largest department, after the United States Department of Defense...
, among other entities.
The building was named after Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaole
Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana'ole
Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaole Piikoi was a prince of the reigning House of Kalākaua when the Kingdom of Hawaii was overthrown by international businessmen in 1893...
, heir to the throne of the overthrown Kingdom of Hawaii
Kingdom of Hawaii
The Kingdom of Hawaii was established during the years 1795 to 1810 with the subjugation of the smaller independent chiefdoms of Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lānai, Kauai and Niihau by the chiefdom of Hawaii into one unified government...
, who served as Republican
Hawaii Republican Party
The Hawaii Republican Party is the state affiliate of the Republican Party of the United States. Based in Honolulu, the party is a central organization established for the promotion of the party platform as it is drafted in convention every other year...
territorial delegate
Territory of Hawaii
The Territory of Hawaii or Hawaii Territory was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 7, 1898, until August 21, 1959, when its territory, with the exception of Johnston Atoll, was admitted to the Union as the fiftieth U.S. state, the State of Hawaii.The U.S...
to the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
from 1903 through 1922.
It was built on part of the former US Army Fort Armstrong, which was named for Samuel C. Armstrong
Samuel C. Armstrong
Samuel Chapman Armstrong was an American educator and a commissioned officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War...
(1839–1893), son of Hawaiian missionaries.
Across Ala Moana Boulevard is the Aloha Tower
Aloha Tower
The Aloha Tower is a lighthouse that is considered one of the landmarks of the state of Hawaii in the United States. Opened on September 11, 1926, the Aloha Tower is located at Pier 9 of Honolulu Harbor. It has and continues to be a guiding beacon welcoming vessels to the City and County of Honolulu...
at the Honolulu harbor
Honolulu Harbor
Honolulu Harbor, also called Kulolia and Ke Awa O Kou, is the principal seaport of Honolulu and the State of Hawaii in the United States. It is from Honolulu Harbor, located on Mamala Bay, that the City & County of Honolulu was developed and urbanized, in an outward fashion, over the course of the...
. Other parts of Fort Armstrong became a container terminal for military supplies.
The Prince Kūhiō Building was constructed to replace the aging Federal Court, Customs House and Post Office building fronting Iolani Palace and adjacent to Aliiōlani Hale
Aliiolani Hale
Aliiōlani Hale is a building located in downtown Honolulu, Hawaii, currently used as the home of the Hawaii State Supreme Court. It is the former seat of government of the Kingdom of Hawaii and the Republic of Hawaii....
which had been built in 1922 and expanded in 1931. After being mostly vacant, the old building was renovated and put up for sale. The old building was given back to the state of Hawaii and was renamed the King David Kalākaua Building
King David Kalakaua Building
The King David Kalakaua Building in Honolulu, Hawaii is a government building formerly known as the U.S. Post Office, Customhouse, and Courthouse...
in December 2003.
Construction of the Prince Kūhiō Federal Building was not without controversy. The General Services Administration
General Services Administration
The General Services Administration is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1949 to help manage and support the basic functioning of federal agencies. The GSA supplies products and communications for U.S...
wanted a simple tall office tower, while local architechts argued for a building more appropriate to Hawaii.
Statutes provided that all buildings between the shoreline and the foot of Punchbowl Crater
Punchbowl Crater
Punchbowl Crater is an extinct volcanic tuff cone located in Honolulu, Hawaii. It is the location of the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific....
could not be taller than the Hawaii State Capitol
Hawaii State Capitol
The Hawaii State Capitol is the official statehouse or capitol building of Hawaii in the United States. From its chambers, the executive and legislative branches perform the duties involved in governing the state...
. The federal government, not legally limited by local statutes, defied the statutes and constructed the building as the tallest structure in the path of the capitol building's view of the shoreline. The complex includes ten stories of offices (including a penthouse level), connected by an enclosed bridge to a six story courthouse building (including basement).
The Prince Kūhiō Federal Building was designed by Joseph G.F. Farrell's firm Architects Hawaii. Other government buildings designed by the firm include the capitol building of Palau
Palau
Palau , officially the Republic of Palau , is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, east of the Philippines and south of Tokyo. In 1978, after three decades as being part of the United Nations trusteeship, Palau chose independence instead of becoming part of the Federated States of Micronesia, a...
, which opened in 2006.
The building was selected for $121 million of renovations as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, abbreviated ARRA and commonly referred to as the Stimulus or The Recovery Act, is an economic stimulus package enacted by the 111th United States Congress in February 2009 and signed into law on February 17, 2009, by President Barack Obama.To...
. The plan is to make the building more efficient by upgrading its mechanical, electrical, fire-safety, and plumbing systems.
It had already been cited as an efficient building by the Energy Star
Energy Star
Energy Star is an international standard for energy efficient consumer products originated in the United States of America. It was first created as a United States government program during the early 1990s, but Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan and the European Union have also adopted...
program.
Traces of asbestos
Asbestos
Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals used commercially for their desirable physical properties. They all have in common their eponymous, asbestiform habit: long, thin fibrous crystals...
were discovered during the first phase.
The second phase of construction was approved in March 2011.