Hawaii State Capitol, Capitol building in downtown Honolulu, United States.
The Hawaii State Capitol is a government building in downtown Honolulu designed with open-air architecture and reflecting pools surrounding the main structure. The roof opens to the sky above the central courtyard, allowing natural light and rain to enter the interior.
Completed in 1969, the building replaced Iolani Palace as the seat of Hawaii's state legislature, marking a shift to a new center of government. This move reflected the changing role of government in the modern era of statehood.
The eight columns surrounding the building each represent one of Hawaii's main islands, while their shape echoes palm tree trunks found across the islands. The legislative chambers inside are designed as volcanic cones, reflecting how the natural landscape influences how people here think about governance.
The building sits in downtown Honolulu between Beretania Street and the Capitol Mall, with ʻIolani Palace a short walk away. The Beretania Street entrance holds the Liberty Bell, the Eternal Flame and the Father Damien Statue. Since 2020 the reflecting pool has been empty and the building surrounded by plywood, so the open-air atrium and its rainbows are not currently visible.
The roof was intentionally left open so that rain falls directly into the courtyard and creates movement in the reflecting pools below. This unusual design means the space feels particularly alive during a rainstorm.
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