ʻIolani Barracks, or Halekoa (house [of] warriors) in Hawaiian, was built in 1870, designed by the architect Theodore Heuck, under the direction of King Lot Kapuaiwa Kamehameha V — born as Lot Kapuāiwa — reigned as monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi from 1863 to 1872. He was born 11 December 1830, and died on his 42nd birthday 11 December 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. Located directly adjacent to ʻIolani Palace in downtown Honolulu Downtown Honolulu is the current and historic central part of Honolulu—bounded by Nuʻuanu Stream to the west, Ward Avenue to the east, Vineyard Boulevard to the north, and Honolulu Harbor to the south—situated within the larger Honolulu District. In downtown Honolulu are found both modern and historic buildings and complexes, many of the, it was the headquarters of the royal guards to the reigning monarch. The structure clearly hearkens to the architecture of medieval castles of Europe Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally divided from Asia to its east by the water divide of the Ural Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian Sea, the Caucasus Mountains (or the Kuma-Manych Depression), and the Black Sea to the southeast. Europe is bordered with its crenelated parapets and towers. It was constructed with coral block walls from the same limestone source used to build Kawaiahaʻo Church Kawaiahaʻo Church is a historic Congregational church located in Downtown Honolulu on the Hawaiian Island of Oʻahu. The church plus associated Mission Houses comprise Kawaiahao Church and Mission Houses, a U.S. National Historic Landmark , so designated in 1962. In 1966 it and all other NHLs were included in the first issuance of the National and the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace and has a slate roof. It is surrounded by rooms once used by the guards as a mess hall, kitchen, dispensary, berth room, and lockup. ʻIolani Barracks was originally built a block behind (mauka, or inland of) ʻIolani Palace.
1873 Barracks Revolt
On September 6, 1873 growing tensions between the enlisted men and the officers resulted in a mutiny after Captain Joseph Jajczay sent four men to the brig A military prison is a prison operated by the military. Military prisons are used variously to house prisoners of war, enemy combatants, those whose freedom is deemed a national security risk by military or civilian authorities, and members of the military found guilty of a serious crime. Thus military prisons are of two types: penal, for for deserting their post guarding the treasury. On the 6th Jajczay returned from church to the barrack to be attacked by his own soldiers and the prisoners. The mutineers took control of the ʻIolani Barracks and later retrieved and loaded two cannons from near the palace. Authorities decided to wait out the mutiny by surrounding the barrack, but did not attack. On the 9th King Lunalilo Lunalilo I, born William Charles Lunalilo , was king of the Kingdom of Hawai‘i from January 8, 1873 until February 3, 1874. He was the most liberal king in Hawaiian history, but was the shortest reigning monarch of the monarchy interviewed the mutineers and issued an offer to them, 13 agreed and surrendered. On the 12th the 24 remaining mutineers agreed to another offer by the king granting full amnesty to end the mutiny. After this revolt Lunalilo disbanded the Hawaiian Army that month and was not restored until King Kalākaua Kalākaua I, born David Laʻamea Kamanakapuʻu Mahinulani Nalaiaehuokalani Lumialani Kalākaua and sometimes called The Merrie Monarch , was the last reigning king of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi. He served in office from February 12, 1874 until his death at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco, California, on January 20, 1891 came to power.
Post-Monarchy
After the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893 the Royal Guard were paid their month’s salary and disbanded. The barracks was used on several occasions as the headquarters of the National Guard of Hawaiʻi The Provisional Government of Hawaiʻi was proclaimed on January 17, 1893 by the 13 member Committee of Safety under the leadership of Lorrin A. Thurston and Sanford B. Dole. It governed the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi after the overthrow of Queen Liliʻuokalani until the Republic of Hawaiʻi was established on July 4, 1894. The building was used as temporary shelter for victims of the 1899 Chinatown fire. It also housed government offices and at one point served as a warehouse.
In 1965 the structure was moved, stone by stone, to its current location to make room for the Hawaiʻi 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 administer their duties in the governance of the state. The Hawaii State Legislature—composed of the twenty-five member Hawaii State Senate led by the President of the Senate and the. Today, the building serves as a visitors center for ʻIolani Palace and houses a gift shop, ticket office, video theater, and membership office.
References
Categories: Hawaiian architecture | Buildings and structures in Hawaii | Barracks in the United States
