| Royal Mausoleum | |
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| U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
 The main building is now a chapel
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| Location: | 2261 Nuʻuanu Ave., Honolulu, Hawaii |
| Coordinates: | 21°19′30″N 157°50′50″W / 21.325°N 157.84722°WCoordinates: 21°19′30″N 157°50′50″W / 21.325°N 157.84722°W |
| Area: | 4 acres (1.6 ha) |
| Built/Founded: | 1863 |
| Architect: | Theodore C. Heuck |
| Architectural style(s): | Gothic |
| Governing body: | State |
| Added to NRHP: | August 7, 1972 |
| NRHP Reference#: | 72000422[1] |
The Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii, known as Mauna ʻAla (Fragrant Hills) in the Hawaiian language, is the final resting place of Hawaii's two prominent royal families: the Kamehameha Dynasty and the Kalākaua Dynasty.[2]
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Description
The site is located at 2261 Nuʻuanu Avenue in Honolulu, Hawaii on the island of Oahu, coordinates 21°19′30″N 157°50′50″W / 21.325°N 157.84722°W. The grounds of the mausoleum are surrounded by a black fence, bearing the royal seal of the Kingdom of Hawaii at the gate. A small chapel is located near the center, immediately behind the tomb of Kalākaua and his family, and to the right of the Kamehameha tomb, Bishop Monument, and Wyllie tomb. The chapel, in the shape of a latin cross, is one of the few examples of Gothic Revival architecture in the islands.[3]
Construction
The 2.7 acre (11,000 m2) mausoleum was designed by architect Theodore Heuck. King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma planned it as a burial site for their four-year old son, Prince Albert. King Kamehameha IV became ill soon afterwards and died November 30, 1863, 15 months after his son. His brother Lot Kamehameha came to the throne as King Kamehameha V.
Immediately Kamehameha V started construction of the mausoleum building. The west ('Ewa) wing was completed at the end of January 1864.[2] The mausoleum was completed in 1865, adjacent to the public 1844 Oahu Cemetery. The mausoleum seemed a fitting place to bury past monarchs of the Kingdom of Hawaii and their families. The remains were transferred in a solemn ceremony leading from ʻIolani Palace to the Nuʻuanu Valley.
On February 3, 1864, a large funeral procession brought the body of Kamehameha IV from ʻIolani Palace and Kawaiahaʻo Church. His casket was placed on a casket stand in the new wing. Later in the evening they brought Ka Haku o Hawai'i (as Prince Albert was known) layed him to rest alongside his father. Queen Emma was so overcome with grief that she camped on the grounds of Mauna ʻAla, and slept in the mausoleum.[2]
Robert Crichton Wylie, Minister of Foreign Affairs, was buried here in October 1865.[3]. Over time, the remains of almost all of Hawaii's monarchs, their consorts, and various princes and princesses would rest at the Royal Mausoleum. Kamehameha I and William Charles Lunalilo are the only two kings not resting at the mausoleum. William Charles Lunalilo, who preferred to be buried in a church cemetery, rests in the courtyard of Kawaiahaʻo Church. Princess Nāhiʻenaʻena and Queen Keōpūolani are buried on Maui at Waiola Church.
Kamehameha I's remains were hidden in a traditional practice to preserve the mana of the aliʻi at the time of the Hawaiian religion.[2] For several generations, descendants of Hoʻolulu, one of the few chosen to help bury the remains of Kamehameha, have been appointed as caretakers.[4]
Mauna ʻAla was removed from the public lands of the United States by a joint resolution of Congress in 1900. It is the only place in Hawaii where the flag of Hawaii can officially fly alone without the American flag. In 1904 stucco was applied to the exterior, and original flooring covered. In 1922 the main building was converted to a chapel, and the royal remains were moved to tombs constructed on the grounds. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 7, 1972.[3]
References
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2009-03-13. http://www.nr.nps.gov/.
- ^ a b c d William John Kaiheʻekai Maiʻoho (2003). "Nuʻuanu, Oʻahu - Memories: Mauna ʻAla". Pacific Worlds & Associates. http://www.pacificworlds.com/nuuanu/memories/memory1.cfm. Retrieved 2009-12-08.
- ^ a b c Dorothy Riconda (November 15, 1971). "The Royal Mausoleum nomination form". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Text/72000422.pdf. Retrieved 2009-10-13.
- ^ Sally Apgar (March 5, 2006). "Mai'ohos feel drawn to royal burial site Six generations have cared for the Nuuanu mausoleum for Hawaii's kings". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. http://archives.starbulletin.com/2006/03/05/news/story04.html.
See also
- List of burials in the Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii
- Thomas Nettleship Staley First Anglican Bishop of Honolulu
External links
- D. Thor Minnick (2002). "Mauna'ala:The Royal Mausoleum, Nu'uanu Valley, Oahu, Hawai'i". Minnick Associates. http://www.minnickassociates.com/projects/maunaala/maunaala.html. Retrieved 2009-10-13.
- Mauna ʻAla, Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii Photo Gallery
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