Rooms
Tour of Rooms in Washington Place
Construction of Washington place was begun in 1842 by the wealthy trader Captain John Dominis. Shortly before the home was completed in 1847, Captain Dominis was lost at sea during a voyage to purchase household furnishings. His wife, Mary Dominis, supported herself and her teenaged son John Owen Dominis by renting rooms in the large home. One of the first tenants, the United States Commissioner, inspired the naming of the home on George Washington’s birthday in 1848, and King Kamehameha III commanded that the name Washington Place be retained “in all time coming.”
Mary's son John Owen Dominis later met and married the Honorable Lydia Kamaka’eha Pākī of a neighboring noble family. She would later be named heir to the Throne by her brother King David Kalākaua and given the name, Lili`uokalani.
For inquiries about a tour of Washington Place, please click on the links below.
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Mary Dominis Parlor This parlor reflects the home's earliest period. Washington Place was the dream home of Mary Lambert Jones Dominis, American-born wife of Captain John Dominis. The furniture is in the Rococo Revival style, fashionable when Mary Dominis made the 150-day voyage from New York around South America to an independent kingdom some people still called the Sandwich Islands in 1837. |
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Queen Lili`uokalani Parlor The grand piano made entirely of native koa wood was a gift to Queen Lili`uokalani in 1892. The Queen was a brilliant composer and musician and filled Washington Place with her lovely songs. The most famous of her compositions is “Aloha `Oe”. Royal kāhili, traditional Hawaiian insignia of “ali`i”, or Hawaiian royalty, flank the room. |
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Queen Lili`uokalani’s Bedroom This was the bedroom of Her Majesty Queen Lili`uokalani. Originally a library, the room was converted to a bedroom to ease the burden of climbing a stairwell in her later years. The walnut bed of American “Eastlake” style is original to the room. The Queen’s Bedroom is the recipient of a Historic Hawai`i Foundation Preservation Honor Award (2003-2004) for excellence in restoration. |
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State Dining Room The State Dining Room was added to the original house in 1922. All of the furnishings are original to this period and the dining room seats 24 guests. Among the many distinguished guest that have dined in this very room are baseball legend Babe Ruth and Shirley Temple, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip, and the Emperor of Japan. Governor Lingle continues the tradition of hosting official state functions in this very dining room. |
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The Blue Room
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Grand Lanai The Grand Lanai was added to Washington Place in 1953 during Governor Samuel King’s administration. Designed by architect, Albert Ely Ives, this spacious lanai expanded the entertaining areas for the Governors and their families. Today, the Grand Lanai remains a gracious spot for events and entertainments. |
