Keōua Hale was the mansion of Princess Ruth Keʻelikōlani at 1302 Queen Emma Street in

downtown Honolulu Downtown Honolulu is the current historic, economic, and governmental center of Honolulu, the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. It is bounded by Nuuanu Stream to the west, Ward Avenue to the east, Vineyard Boulevard to the n ...

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; ) is an island U.S. state, state of the United States, in the Pacific Ocean about southwest of the U.S. mainland. One of the two Non-contiguous United States, non-contiguous U.S. states (along with Alaska), it is the only sta ...

History

The mansion was built upon the site of Ruth and her adoptive son

Leleiohoku Leleiohoku may refer to: *Leleiohoku I, William Pitt Leleiohoku I, (1821–1848), Hawaiian Kingdom chief *Leleiohoku II William Pitt Leleiohoku II, born Kalahoʻolewa (January 10, 1855 – April 9, 1877), was a prince of the Hawaiian Kingdom a ...

's residence in Honolulu, ''Kaakopua''. It burned down in 1873 and plans were made to build a grander home on the location. In the meantime Keelikōlani and Leleiohoku resided in another house on King Street until the house was completed, although most of her time was spent on the

Big Island of Hawaii Big or BIG may refer to: * Big, of great size or degree Film and television * ''Big'' (film), a 1988 fantasy-comedy film starring Tom Hanks * ''Big'', a 2023 Taiwanese children's film starring Van Fan and Chie Tanaka * '' Big!'', a Discover ...

at the Hulihee Palace. Leleiohoku never saw the building completed, dying in 1877. The main architect behind new structure was Charles J. Hardy, an American from Chicago, employed at the Enterprise Planing Mill in Honolulu. The gaslit interior of the mansion was celebrated for its ornate plaster work and frescoes. It followed the

Second Empire architecture Second Empire style, also known as the Napoleon III style, is a highly eclectic style of architecture and decorative arts originating in the Second French Empire. It was characterized by elements of many different historical styles, and al ...

, or so-called French style of architecture, and was considered a classical Victorian-style mansion. Surrounded by extensive, well-kept gardens, it was characterized by mansard roof, broad lanais, from which lofty flights of steps led down into the gardens, and a large drawing-room upon the ceiling of which was emblazoned the Hawaiian coat of arms. In the spring of 1883 the building was completed. It was larger than the

ʻIolani Palace The Iolani Palace () was the royal residence of the rulers of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi beginning with Kamehameha III under the Kamehameha Dynasty (1845) and ending with Queen Liliʻuokalani (1893) under the Kalākaua Dynasty. It is located i ...

. Ruth gave a grand luau to celebrate the event. This was followed by a ball in the evening, which was attended by all the best society of

Honolulu Honolulu ( ; ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii, located in the Pacific Ocean. It is the county seat of the Consolidated city-county, consolidated City and County of Honol ...

, whether of native or foreign birth. But after these festivities the princess was taken suddenly ill, and left for

Kailua Kailua () is a census-designated place (CDP) in Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States. It lies in the Koolaupoko District of the island of Oahu on the windward coast at Kailua Bay. It is in the judicial district and the ahupua'a named Ko'ol ...

Hawaii island Hawaii is the largest island in the United States, located in the state of Hawaii, the southernmost state in the union. It is the southeasternmost of the Hawaiian Islands, a chain of volcanic islands in the North Pacific Ocean. With an area of ...

hoping to restore her health. She received medical attention, but did not recover. On 24 May her remains were brought back to Honolulu, and

lay in state Lying in state is the tradition in which the body of a deceased official, such as a head of state, is placed in a state building, either outside or inside a coffin, to allow the public to pay their respects. It traditionally takes place in a m ...

in the new house. It was later inherited by Princess

Bernice Pauahi Bernice Pauahi Pākī Bishop KGCOK RoK (December 19, 1831 – October 16, 1884) was an '' alii'' (noble) of the royal family of the Kingdom of Hawaii and a well known philanthropist. Ancestry, birth and early life Pauahi was born in Hon ...

who died in it. Today, the site of Keōua Hale is occupied by

Princess Ruth Keʻelikōlani Middle School Princess Ruth Keʻelikōlani Middle School, shortened as Ke‘elikōlani Middle School (formerly known as Central Middle School, Central Intermediate School, Central Grammar School, and Ke‘elikōlani School) is a co-ed, middle school of the Haw ...

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Keoua Hale Royal residences in Hawaii Buildings and structures in Honolulu French colonial architecture in the United States

History

See also

References

External links