Hawaii State Capitol, Honolulu

The Hawaii State Capitol serves as the official government headquarters of Hawaii. It was constructed as a replacement for the previous capitol building, Iolani Palace, and was commissioned during the tenure of the second Governor of Hawaii, John A. Burns.

The architectural design of the building is inspired by Hawaii's natural surroundings. A prominent feature is the large reflecting pool surrounding it, symbolizing the Pacific Ocean. The legislative chambers are uniquely conical in shape, reminiscent of the volcanoes that shaped Hawaii. The columns encircling the building are crafted to resemble coconut trees, arranged in pairs of eight on both sides to represent the eight primary islands of Hawaii.

One distinctive aspect of the design is its openness to the elements, allowing the sun, rain, and wind to freely enter the structure. The central area provides visitors with a view of chandeliers inside the legislative chambers, symbolizing the sun and the moon. Unlike typical capitol buildings with a closed central rotunda, this space is left open to the sky.

The grounds of the capitol also feature several noteworthy monuments. These include a statue of Queen Liliuokalani located in the Capitol Mall, a Liberty Bell, a statue of Father Damien (a Catholic priest who cared for lepers for sixteen years and was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in 2009), and two monuments dedicated to honoring Hawaiian members of the military.