Things to do / Travel Guide
Perhaps the most famous and historic building in Oahu is the Iolani Palace, located in downtown Honolulu. This landmark structure is considered the prime example of Hawaiian renaissance architecture. The Iolani Palace is also one of only two royal palaces in the United States. It was built by Hawaii's last king, King David Kalakua, from 1879-1882. The motivation behind the palatial project was to impress upon the world that the then kingdom of Hawaii could rival the monarchies in Europe.
The missionaries who came to Hawaii built themselves New England-style frame houses. This style was later adapted to Hawaii and became known as Hawaiian mission architecture. One example of this style is the Chamberlain House in Honolulu.
The Moana Hotel is not only an example of contemporary Hawaiian architecture, but it is also a historic landmark building. The building, which opened in 1901, used to house Hawaii's first major hotel, and helped usher in the tourist industry.
Modern Hawaii's Capitol Building is a model of beautiful international-style architecture. Also located in downtown Honolulu, the Capitol Building was built during the tenure of Hawaii's second governor, John Burns, and was completed in 1969. The design and structure of the Capitol Building are symbolic of Hawaii itself, representing volcanoes, palm trees, the sky, and water. The grounds are surrounded by water to represent the island nature of the state. Furthermore, the open entries to the building complex symbolize the state's openness with nature.
Despite Oahu's reputation as the U.S.A.'s island paradise, Honolulu is truly a developed city. The first tall building in Honolulu was the Aloha Tower, built in 1926, standing by Honolulu Harbor. It remained the tallest structure in Honolulu until the advent of full-fledged skyscrapers in the 1960s. The tallest and perhaps most striking skyscraper on Oahu is the First Hawaiian Center in Honolulu. It was completed in 1996, is 429 feet tall, and contains almost 650,000 square feet of office space.
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