HAWAIIAN GOVT. OFFICES REMOVED FROM ROYAL PALACE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18046, 5 January 1927, Page 5

HAWAIIAN GOVT. OFFICES REMOVED FROM ROYAL PALACE.

(Special to the “Star”) HONOLULU, December 4. The transfer of government offices from the old ro} r al palace to the new territorial building recently completed in Palace Square, recalls a bit of Hawaiian political history. Due to the expansion of the various departments of government, the territorial building was erected to relieve the palace of overcrowding. The present transfer is the first that has occurred since the palace was first occupied by the provisional government thirtythree years ago. In June, 1898, shortly after the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, a proclamation w r as published declaring lolani Palace, former home of Hawaiian royalty, the headquarters of the new government. The departments which had previously been installed in the “ House of Chiefs,” now the judiciary building, were moved across the square into the former chambers of the Hawaiian royal family. The late Sanford B. Dole, first president of the Republic of Hawaii, and later the territory’s first governor, took up liis headquarters in the music room of the royal household. The foreign office occupied the bedroom of King Kalakaua. It may have been a coincidence, or possibly the provisional government had a sense of humour, but nevertheless, the new government’s treasurer made his headquarters in the royal reception room, while the “ department of the interior ” established itself in the dining room. Now, after 33 years’ occupancy, the various bureaux and departments are moving to a new and thoroughly up-to-date location. The old palace will continue to be the headquarters for the governor of the territory, the secretary of the territory, and the attorney general, leaving the downstairs halls to the legislative houses, which meet every two years, and the vacated smaller rooms for the use of legislative committees. The whole palace will be renovated and the Throne Room, the only one in U.S.A., will be open as usual to visitors.