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During his first gubernatorial campaign in 1994, Ben Cayetano made a campaign promise that he would return Washington Place to the Hawaiian people. Cayetano helps break
ground at Washington PlaceHe is making good on an early
pledge to return the building
to the people of HawaiiBy Pat Omandam
pomandam@starbulletin.comNearly eight years later, the outgoing governor said it gives him "great personal satisfaction" to see the 156-year-old home of Queen Liliuokalani returned to all the people of Hawaii.
The first step of that promise was the groundbreaking ceremony yesterday for the new $1.2 million governor's quarters at the rear of the palace grounds. With construction expected to be done by November, the privately funded home will allow Washington Place to fully become a museum and gallery that showcases the period when Liliuokalani, Hawaii's last queen, lived in the home.
"This is a fulfillment of one of the promises that I made when I first ran for governor, and it's a great feeling to fulfill that promise," Cayetano said. "I'm very excited for the next first family and for the gallery that's going to be built. It's going to be wonderful."
Architect Pravin Desai of CDS International said the new two-story, 5,000-square-foot home will include three upstairs bedrooms and a downstairs bedroom.
Desai said the exterior of the wood-framed home will be in a bungalow-cottage style, with an off-white color and an asphalt/shingled roof.
A deck will surround the entire home, which will have all modern amenities and increased security features, he said. The general contractor is Hidano Construction Inc., and the expected completion date is early November.
First lady Vicky Cayetano spearheaded the fund-raising effort for the new governor's home.
While subsequent first families will no longer live at Washington Place, the historic building will continue to host functions, she said.
"The exchange of good will and conversation among local residents, visiting dignitaries and others will continue to bring life to the home and add to its rich and varied history," she said.
The second floor of Washington Place has been home to 12 governors, an American commissioner and their wives and families. In the near future, its second floor will become the new Queen Liliuokalani Galleries, where large collections of never-before-exhibited, original objects, as well as other period pieces, will be displayed, said Jim Bartels, Washington Place director.
Gov. Cayetano said the home will benefit from less wear and tear from people living there. For example, he said, there have been instances where guests of first families have slept in the queen's bedroom -- and on the queen's bed.
"I'm sorry, but no one should live here anymore. This is for the people," Cayetano said. "But they're (the next governor's family) going to like the new quarters because it's going to be more comfortable. It will represent, I think, a home. This one does not."
Cayetano said once it opens as a museum, Washington Place, along with the new State Art Museum at the nearby Hemmeter Building, will enhance the Capitol District, an area that already includes the state Capitol, Iolani Palace, the Mission Houses Museum and Kawaiahao Church.
State of Hawaii