Categories: Sightseeing / Travel

Historic Honolulu, Part 2

We just finished seeing the Hawaii State Capitol and had a few more stops left to complete our self-guided walking tour of historic Honolulu.

Next up was the Kawaiahao Church, a Protestant church once known to be the chapel for royalty. This was the fifth church constructed (the first four were made with thatches). Built with coral rock from reefs off the southern coast, it was completed in 1842.

 
Near the entrance of the Kawaiaha’o Church is the mausoleum of King William Lunalilo…

 
The Mission Houses Museum is across the street…

 
 
Built in the 1830’s, the Mission Houses complex is where some of Hawaii’s earliest missionaries lived. Prior to that, they had thatched homes on the premises. The next photo is an example of what their previous homes may have looked like (photo taken later in the week on another tour).

Thatched homes

 
As we were leaving the Mission Houses complex… we noticed the Mission Cemetery (right behind the Kawaiahao Church), where some of the founding Kawaiahao missionaries, as well as early political leaders are buried. This is the memorial sign….

 
We hoofed it back towards the King Kamehameha I statue to see the stained glass dome inside this building…

Territorial Office Building

Unfortunately, it was already closed for the day (front door was locked), but here’s a glimpse of the dome from me peering in…

 
Our walking tour would end once we reached Queen Street…

The backside of the Ali’iolani Hale building

 
We spotted this lovely artwork directly across the street…

 
 
The day was still young, and Chip suggested we could take-on the Ala Moana Center, a mall roughly a mile and a half away. Not surprisingly (being that Chipster’s in great shape), he also mentioned walking there. Not having “researched” the areas beforehand, I wasn’t exactly thrilled with the idea until I asked a nice couple if the streets to the mall were safe–they were fairly reassuring it would be.

Here’s a visual layout of that day…

Point “A” was our starting point to the mall (point “B”)

Two cool finds along the way…

Coastal backdrop behind the FedEx Office building
FedEx may have rebranded these stores, but I still consider ’em “Kinko’s”

Chip and I both agree that “body” is from a real Corvette (we touched it)

The Ala Moana Center is comin’ right up.

Historic Honolulu, Part 1

Aloha Tower & Marketplace

Very first day in Hawaii

Our Oahu itinerary

Most awesomest fanny pack

Bon Voyage, Green!

Betty Crocker Hershey’s Cookie Brownie Bars

Tags: Ali'iolani Hale, Hawaii, Honolulu, Kawaiahao Church, King William Lunalilo mausoleum, Mission Cemetery, Mission Houses Museum, Oahu, Territorial Office Building