Images of Old Hawaiʻi

by Peter T Young 1 Comment

Aliʻiolani House

By 1866, the need for a new courthouse government building was apparent. The old courthouse, completed in 1852, accommodated not only the judicial needs of the young nation, but also served as the reception hall for diplomatic ceremonies and official social functions. The legislature appropriated funds towards a new palace and a new government building. Delays ensued. Kamehameha V envisioned a civic center around the palace, and plans were made to purchase the Mililani premises on King Street.

“It is the intention of this Govt to build a new Royal Palace here”. The cornerstone was laid on February 19, 1872. Kamehameha V never saw the completion of the Government Building; nor did they build his new Palace. The Government Building officially opened by the Legislature on April 30, 1874. “‘Ali‘iolani House’ is the name by which the new Government house is to be hereafter known, by command of His Majesty (Kalākaua.)” The building is known as Ali‘iolani Hale; it is the former seat of government of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi and the Republic of Hawaiʻi and now houses the Hawai‘i Supreme Court and Judiciary History Center of Hawai‘i.

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Charles Coffin Harris

Charles Coffin Harris was born on June 9, 1822 in New Hampshire. He graduated from Harvard in 1841; be began teaching school, studied law and married his cousin, Harriet M Harris. The ‘gold rush’ took him to California. That, then, brought him to the Islands. “He arrived at the Islands still a young man – during the formation period of our history, and entering our then infant country as a practitioner, and occasionally our Legislature as a representative – he contributed to the growth of the superstructure of jurisprudence which exists to-day in this Kingdom.”

“His first public employment was that of police magistrate of Honolulu in the year 1851. He was elected representative for one of the districts of the Island of Hawaii in 1852.” “He continued to practice law with marked success. In 1862, a law was passed, creating the office of attorney-general of the kingdom, and to which office he was appointed on the 26th of August, 1862 by Kamehameha IV.” After a few years of service he went to Washington, but returned in 1868 and became Minister of Finance, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, then, in 1874 was appointed First Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, and later became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and Chancellor of the Kingdom.

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Early History of the Judiciary

The early history of the Hawaiian Judiciary may be divided into three periods: the first, which may be briefly described as the period of absolute government, extending from the earliest migrations of Hawaiians to the Islands (about 1000 to 1840.) The second period of the early judicial system, a period that is referenced as the time of constitutional government, extending from 1840 to 1893; the third is a brief transitional time (through the Provisional government and Republic) leading to association with the United States (Territory and now State.)

Today, Ali‘iolani Hale houses the Supreme Court of Hawai‘i. Open to the general public and welcoming visits from classroom students, the Judiciary History Center reflects the unique legal and judicial history of our islands from the days of kapu law to the present – from chiefs to monarchy to statehood. The image shows Ali‘iolani Hale in 1875, shortly after it was completed. The King Kamehameha Statue that now stands in frontof the building was unveiled on February 14, 1883.

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Aliʻiolani Hale

By 1866, the need for a new courthouse government building in the Hawaiian Kingdom was apparent.  The old courthouse, completed in 1852, accommodated not only the judicial needs, but also served as the reception hall for diplomatic ceremonies and official social functions. The legislature appropriated funds towards a new palace and a new government building. […]