Whatever
Happened To...
An update on past news
Washington Place now
available for a fee
for meetings and eventsQuestion: What ever happened to the renovation of Washington Place?
Answer: After former Gov. Ben Cayetano built a new governor's residence for his successor last year, organizations are hosting parties at Washington Place -- for a fee.
The former governor's mansion, across the street from the state Capitol on Beretania Street, was opened to the public in August 2002 after a new home was built for the governor nearby.
After the transition, Washington Place's patio was offered up as a meeting hall for up to 180 guests.
Organizations pay a $500 fee to use the space, but if they are doing fund raising or making money off the event, they are charged $2,500 per event.
A total of 31 events have been held at the home since January, said special-events planner Glenn Shigeta.
The idea sounded appealing to the Hawaii Children's Trust Fund, the Good Beginnings Alliance and the Mrs. America Pageant, all of which have recently held functions at the home.
Children's Trust Fund program coordinator Deanna Yates said her group held its 10-year anniversary at Washington Place. "The atmosphere just reflects Hawaii," she said.
"It's not a hotel. It's not your normal event venue, and so I think that lends some mystique to it," she said.
All the event fees go to the Washington Place Foundation, which maintains the home's upkeep and free Hawaiian antiquities museum, Shigeta said.
The funds will also help the foundation turn the mansion's second floor -- the former quarters of the state's governors -- into an extension of the museum.
Previously, only gubernatorial events were held at the home.
But Shigeta said Gov. Linda Lingle "wanted to open up the home to the general public for the local community to use."
Washington Place, built in 1846 by wealthy trader Capt. John Dominis, was named after the nation's first president.
It is best known as the home of Hawaii's last queen, Liliuokalani. A dozen territorial and state governors called it home in the 1900s.
The home's museum includes four original bedrooms which hold some of the queen's personal artifacts and 1800s-era furniture.
Shigeta said the second-floor museum is expected to open soon. The home's recently hired curator, Corinne Chun Fujimoto, has not yet established what exhibits will be shown.
"Right now, I have some things that I want to focus on, and that is the house as it is and its needs," she said.
To take a free tour of Washington Place by appointment or for information about holding an event at the home, call 586-0240.
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