Kamehameha V Time Capsule Located

BumpyKanahele.com

WAIMANALO -- Translations from Hawaiian archives demonstrate that over a century ago on February 19, 1872 King Kamehameha V laid the cornerstone of Ali'iolani Hale and within it buried a time capsule containing the Hawaiian Kingdom Constitution, a Hawaiian dictionary, 21 coins of Hawaiian and foreign origin, stamps, books, calendar, 11 different local newspapers, and photos of the royal family that included King Kamehameha the Great. The Hawaiian Kingdom was annexed by the United States 20 years later.

Using ground penetrating radar researchers scanned the area around historical Ali'iolani Hale and at the northeast corner of the building they located a hollow spot that may contain the historical artifacts. Experts commented that removing the time capsule without great care and planning would greatly undermine the structural integrity of the building. Knowing the potential location of the time capsule will enable Hawaiian authorities to safeguard it against future disasters and renovations.

Ali'iolani Hale is located behind the gold-leaf statue of Kamehameha the Great in downtown Honolulu and currently houses the Hawaii State Supreme Court. It is the former seat of government of the Kingdom of Hawai'i and the Republic of Hawai'i. Ali'iolani Hale was originally designed in a Renaissance revival style as the royal palace for King Kamehameha V. Although the building was designed to be a palace, Kamehameha V realized that the Hawaiian government needed a government building more. At that time, the several buildings in Honolulu used by the government were very small and cramped, clearly inadequate for the growing Hawaiian government. Thus, when Kamehameha V ordered construction of Ali'iolani Hale, he commissioned it as a government office building instead of a palace. Kamehameha V laid the cornerstone for the building on February 19, 1872. He passed away before the building was completed, and it was dedicated in 1874 by one of his successors, King David Kalakaua. Until 1893, the building held most of the executive departments of the Hawaiian government as well as the Hawaiian legislature and courts.