Ali'iolani Hale
Ali'iolani Hale
4
About
Originally intended as a royal residence, the historic Aliiolani Hale was reconfigured to house government offices when Iolani Palace was constructed. Today, it’s still the home of Hawaii’s Supreme Court.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Neighbourhood: Downtown Honolulu
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4.0
134 reviews
Excellent
52
Very good
60
Average
20
Poor
2
Terrible
0
Tennessee50plus
Springfield, TN8,011 contributions
Sept 2012 • Family
Yes, anyone who has seen the new Hawaii 5-0 or just about any show or movie from Hawaii has seen this memorable building with the iconic statute of King Kamehameha. Plus it is across the street from the Iolani Palace so you get an easy twofer. Get a picture, visit the inside briefly to enjoy this beautiful building and then head over to the palace.
Written 19 October 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bzygo
Houston, TX143 contributions
Jul 2012 • Solo
I've only seen a few episodes of the new Hawaii Five 0, but I did recognize the building used in the exterior shots for the squad's office, it's the Ali'iolani Hale, the home of the Hawaiian Supreme Court. Hidden inside this building is a small museum, that is free, that details the development of Hawaii's legal system from the days before contact with Western Europeans to the present. Includes a good section on the use of martial law during World War II. I note that I was the only person exploring this exhibit the morning I was there.
Written 30 July 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Terry S
Berkshire, UK122 contributions
Feb 2014 • Couples
This was on our list of things to do and did not disappoint. Well worth a visit and across the road from the lolani palace. Some good history and reading to be had here.
One tip for 5-0 fans looking for that picture, get there in the morning as the Sun is all wrong for that picture in the afternoon.
We took a bus from Waikiki, easy to locate.
One tip for 5-0 fans looking for that picture, get there in the morning as the Sun is all wrong for that picture in the afternoon.
We took a bus from Waikiki, easy to locate.
Written 28 February 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mag1017
Tinton Falls, NJ70 contributions
Mar 2012 • Friends
There's a small museum about old Hawaiian law. Beautiful rotunda with stained glass ceiling. Curved marble staircase. Don't miss the clock hanging from the ceiling of the back hallway. I think it's carved wood. It's reminds me of an upside down mantle clock. I loved it.
Written 1 April 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ddvanisle
Nanaimo, Canada35 contributions
Nov 2019
If you are Hawai’i 5 0 fan then you must visit this site which is used in the show as “5 O Headquarters”.
Written 26 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Duquesadiner
Glasgow, UK1,310 contributions
Dec 2019 • Couples
Sitting directly opposite the Palace this building is often overlooked but it is equally impressive in its own way. There is a magnificent, said to be life size statue of King Kamehameha outside and he looks an imposing character. We were lucky on the day we visited as some filming was underway, probably an episode of Hawaii 5 0. Have a look round the back to see some magnificent banyan trees.
Written 29 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dottie H
84 contributions
Oct 2019 • Couples
Just behind the King Kamehameha statue is the building for the Supreme Court. Lots of history of Hawaii exhibits inside, including WWII. Photos, dioramas, models. Working court & offices upstairs. Downstairs has all the exhibits, including the first courtroom. It's free. Have to go through security scanner because it is a government bldg.
Written 12 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
interceptpubs
Columbus, IN975 contributions
Aug 2019
While today this impressive Italian Renaissance Revival structure is home to the state's Supreme Court and other offices of the state's judiciary branch, it was designed originally to be a king's palace, specifically the palace for King Kamehameha V. However, when the plans arrived in 1871 from the Australian architect who drew them up, it was decided that what the country really needed was a building to house the state's legislature and courts. The palatial plans were modified for this purpose and construction undertaken in 1872.
Besides being an architectural triumph, the building was also something of an engineering marvel being constructed of a then relatively new building material described as “infinitely superior for both durability and ornament,” concrete blocks. As they have survived with no signs of deterioration for well over a century, the claim has proven very true. Under the supervision of Australian stone masons and with the addition of local convicts to bolster the ranks of the construction crew, the building was completed in two short years.
For the next two decades, the building housed not only the courts and legislature but also much of the kingdom's executive department. It even housed the country's first national museum and served as an observatory for the 1874 transit of Venus.
Ali'iolani Hale was also the focal point of the movement to overthrow the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893. The instigators of the revolution took over the building and stationed their troops here to counter the loyalist forces protecting the Queen in Iolani Palace across the street. After the establishment of the Republic of Hawaii, the legislature moved to the palace, renamed the "Executive Building," and this building became the "Judiciary Building," a function that it still serves to this day.
We visited Ali'iolani Hale along with Iolani Palace across the street recently. The exterior of the building, including the lovely courtyard and its statue of King Kamehameha I, is certainly beautiful (especially compared to rather nondescript modern state capitol building a couple blocks away). We didn't have time to go inside which isn't too big of a loss as it was gutted and completely rebuilt around 1911 so isn't original anyway - however, if you are interested in the judiciary history of the state, there is a museum inside that might be worth taking in. If history or architecture isn't your thing, the building may still be of "cultural" interest as it served as the Hawaii Five-0 headquarters in the old '70s TV series.
Besides being an architectural triumph, the building was also something of an engineering marvel being constructed of a then relatively new building material described as “infinitely superior for both durability and ornament,” concrete blocks. As they have survived with no signs of deterioration for well over a century, the claim has proven very true. Under the supervision of Australian stone masons and with the addition of local convicts to bolster the ranks of the construction crew, the building was completed in two short years.
For the next two decades, the building housed not only the courts and legislature but also much of the kingdom's executive department. It even housed the country's first national museum and served as an observatory for the 1874 transit of Venus.
Ali'iolani Hale was also the focal point of the movement to overthrow the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893. The instigators of the revolution took over the building and stationed their troops here to counter the loyalist forces protecting the Queen in Iolani Palace across the street. After the establishment of the Republic of Hawaii, the legislature moved to the palace, renamed the "Executive Building," and this building became the "Judiciary Building," a function that it still serves to this day.
We visited Ali'iolani Hale along with Iolani Palace across the street recently. The exterior of the building, including the lovely courtyard and its statue of King Kamehameha I, is certainly beautiful (especially compared to rather nondescript modern state capitol building a couple blocks away). We didn't have time to go inside which isn't too big of a loss as it was gutted and completely rebuilt around 1911 so isn't original anyway - however, if you are interested in the judiciary history of the state, there is a museum inside that might be worth taking in. If history or architecture isn't your thing, the building may still be of "cultural" interest as it served as the Hawaii Five-0 headquarters in the old '70s TV series.
Written 17 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sydneyswans910
Sydney, Australia128 contributions
Feb 2013 • Family
This place is right next to the Iolani Palace. We hadn't planned to visit here but the statute drew us in! The security is tight as it is the Supreme Court - x-ray machines and bag checks. Once inside there is an educational exhibit detailing the legal changes and challenges faced by Hawaii, with mentions of the history of martial law, the development of the court system and other fascinating photos. A guide came up to me and was really friendly in explaining the information. He also seemed very excited to find out we were from Australia!
There is a court room where you can sit in the judge's seat and take photos. Upstairs is the functioning Supreme Court, but it was closed on the day we visited and the lights were off so we couldn't see inside. It is a small attraction, will only take an hour max, but a worthwhile visit. I do not believe we paid a fee to enter.
There is a court room where you can sit in the judge's seat and take photos. Upstairs is the functioning Supreme Court, but it was closed on the day we visited and the lights were off so we couldn't see inside. It is a small attraction, will only take an hour max, but a worthwhile visit. I do not believe we paid a fee to enter.
Written 7 May 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lmlizzio
Fort Worth, TX359 contributions
Aug 2019 • Couples
Fantastic place to visit to really see the history of the city and the court system. FREE to go in and visit. They have a separate room that tells you the history of the islands beginnings and how it came to be in the political world. Recommend
Written 1 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I'll be travelling in early January 2017. Do I have to book in advance to get a tour of the building?
Written 5 November 2016
And I only say that you need a reservation because that way you know you'll get in for the tour.
Written 6 November 2016
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