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Queen’s meticulous
records aid curator

A beautiful Hawaiian girl of noble birth marries the dashing son of an American sea captain. He becomes governor of Oahu; she becomes queen of Hawaii.

If you go ... What: Washington Place Address: 320 S. Beretania St. Tours: Offered weekdays except state and federal holidays. Reservations must be made 48 hours prior to the day you wish to visit. Times are 11 a.m. Mondays and 10 a.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. Call for information about afternoon tours. Notes: Groups are limited to 12 people. Tour arrangements may be made for schools, community groups and other organizations. Each guest must show a photo ID to enter. Still photography is restricted to the home's front exterior, and video cameras are not permitted. Guests may bring handbags; anything larger is not allowed. There is no public parking. Admission: Free, but tax-deductible donations to the nonprofit Washington Place Foundation -- which assists with the research, preservation and restoration of the historic home -- are welcomed. Checks also can be mailed to the foundation at P.O. Box 873, Honolulu, HI 96808. Call: 586-0248 E-mail: Briana.Solidum@hawaii.gov Web site: www.hawaii.gov/gov/washington_place

Tragically, he dies eight months after she ascends the throne, and two years later she loses her crown in a coup led by American businessmen. The queen is arrested and imprisoned for more than seven months. Although the ruling authority of the Hawaiian monarchy is never restored, she holds fast to her pride and dignity, and the love, loyalty and respect of her people.

Romance, intrigue, drama -- Queen Liliuokalani's life contains all the ingredients of a best-selling novel. The backdrop for most of her remarkable story is Washington Place, the beautiful Honolulu mansion built by wealthy trader Capt. John Dominis, the father of her husband, John Owen Dominis.

After their lavish wedding on Sept. 16, 1862, the couple retired to Washington Place, which Liliuokalani describes in her memoir, "Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen" as "a large, square, white house, with pillars and porticos on all sides, really a palatial dwelling, as comfortable in its appointments as it is inviting in its aspect; its front is distant from the street far enough to avoid the dust and noise. Trees shade its walls from the heat of noonday; its ample gardens are filled with the choicest of flowers and shrubs; it is, in fact, just what it appears, a choice tropical retreat in the midst of the chief city of the Hawaiian Islands."

Capt. Dominis had spared no expense in the construction of the grand home, importing the finest building materials from New England as well as exotic furniture from Asia. Shortly before it was completed in 1847, he set sail for China, where he planned to purchase more furnishings. He never returned.

To support herself and her then teenage son, the captain's widow, Mary, rented rooms to several distinguished officials, including U.S. Commissioner Anthony Ten Eyck. (The U.S. legation had been established at the Dominis residence.)

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CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM The front entrance to Washington Place from Beretania Street.

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On Feb. 22, 1848, Mrs. Dominis hosted a celebration at her home to mark the birthday of George Washington. There, Ten Eyck suggested that she christen the home "Washington Place" in honor of America's first president.

Mrs. Dominis assented, as did King Kamehameha III, who directed that the name be retained "in all time coming."

Following Queen Liliuokalani's death in 1917, her nephew Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole proposed that the Territory of Hawaii acquire Washington Place as the official residence for its governor, thus ensuring it would be preserved. From 1922 to 2002, it was the home of 12 Hawaii governors and their families.

THIS LONG-STANDING role changed when private donations paid for a new residence for the governor adjacent to Washington Place. Gov. Linda Lingle moved there in December 2002, allowing the venerable manse to be transformed into a museum. Although it is still used for state functions, Curator Corinne Chun Fujimoto sees Washington Place primarily as a memorial to Queen Liliuokalani.

Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, the stately house harbors fascinating vestiges of Hawaii's past, both inside and out.

"Mary Dominis and Liliuokalani both had a great love for plants," Chun Fujimoto says. "In fact, some of the trees that stand in the front yard were planted by Mrs. Dominis. When Liliuokalani became lady of the house, she also surrounded herself with potted plants on the lanais of the mansion."

One day, the queen was moved to painstakingly record a handwritten inventory of all the plants, trees, shrubs, flowers and ferns flourishing on the grounds. Says Chun Fujimoto, "That's going to allow us to not only restore the house, but to bring back some of the original plantings."

Inside, furnishings reflect Liliuokalani's regal demeanor, among them a gleaming koa grand piano that was presented in April 1892 as a gift from the residents of Honolulu. A brilliant musician and composer, she no doubt wrote dozens of songs at this piano, including, perhaps, her best-known work, the haunting "Aloha 'Oe."

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CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM A photograph of Queen Liliuokalani and a clock sit in the queen's bedroom at the historic mansion.

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Peek in the queen's bedroom and you'll see her bed, rocking chair, dresser and clock. Originally a library, it was converted to a bedroom in her later years so she wouldn't have to climb two flights of stairs to the second story, where the rest of the bedrooms were located.

A glass cabinet showcases an eclectic assortment of Liliuokalani's treasures -- including a sterling silver and glass perfume vial, a garnet and silver brooch containing a photo of her husband, a lei niho palaoa (ivory pendant), a silver and mother-of-pearl letter opener and a gold bracelet given to her by the Duke of Edinburgh during his visit to Hawaii in 1869.

One of Chun Fujimoto's favorite items in this exhibit is a white card displaying a crown and these words in elegant blue lettering: "Liliuokalani. Washington Place, Beretania St. First Thursday of every month."

She explains, "This was the day reserved for friends and visitors to call on the queen."

Tours now cover only the first floor of Washington Place -- the queen's bedroom, three parlors, a formal dining room and an enclosed lanai that were added in 1922, and a large patio built in 1953. Plans call for the second story eventually to be included, displaying more of the queen's possessions and more history about her home.

"There's a wealth of information about Washington Place that has not yet been tapped," Chun Fujimoto says. "New things are being brought to light about the home every day. For example, in the State Archives, records dating back to the 1840s detail the costly imported materials along with each step of the construction process. It's so exciting because none of this has ever been studied or interpreted before!"

She hopes people in the community will come forth with stories and artifacts, and help bring Washington Place back to life.

"It is heartening to receive even the smallest bit of information," Chun Fujimoto says. "We want people to be engaged. We want them to support our efforts. Our goal is to make the queen's home a gathering place for the people of Hawaii."

Celebrate Kuhio Day at 'Spring Promenade'

Washington Place will be among the historic Honolulu sites participating in "Spring Promenade: Stepping Back in Time" from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. The dual event also celebrates Kuhio Day, a state observance of the birthday of Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole, who served as Hawaii's delegate to Congress from 1902 until his death on Jan. 7, 1922.

The free promenade will be hosted by Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona Jr. and his wife, Vivian. Festivities will begin at Iolani Palace with an 11 a.m. concert by the Royal Hawaiian Band. A lau hala-weaving demonstration is planned at Iolani Barracks from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tours of the palace will be available during the same time (regular admission rates apply).

The neighboring Hawaii State Art Museum will offer a petting zoo on the front lawn and exhibitions titled "Reflecting Hawaii," "Innerscapes" and "Enriched by Diversity." Children can make spring bonnets and hats in the Second Floor Courtyard, then present their creations for judging in a 1 p.m. Spring Hat Contest at Washington Place. While there, you also can enjoy guided tours and Victorian games.

Across King Street, the Mission Houses Museum will present a glimpse of missionary life with 19th-century games, docents in period attire and guided tours at 11 a.m. and 1 and 2:45 p.m. (regular admission rates apply). Other "Spring Promenade" activities were being confirmed at press time. For more information, call 586-0240.

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