Prince Kuhio Federal Building

Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole Federal Building and United States Courthouse

The building viewed near Honolulu Harbor
General information
Type Courthouse and office building
Location Honolulu, Hawaii
Coordinates 21°18′13″N 157°51′44″W / 21.30361°N 157.86222°W / 21.30361; -157.86222
Completed 1977
Owner United States federal government
Technical details
Floor area 929,857 square feet (86,386.5 m2)
Design and construction
Architect Architects Hawaii

The Prince Kūhiō Federal Building, formally the Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole Federal Building and United States Courthouse, is the official seat of the United States federal government and its local branches of various agencies and departments in the state of Hawaiʻi. Its address is 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, Honolulu, Hawaii 96850.[1]

The building was completed in 1977 with a total of 929,857 square feet (86,386.5 m2) of working space.[2] It houses the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii. the United States Attorney for the District of Hawaii, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (Honolulu Division), the offices of Hawaii's U.S. Senators, the offices of Hawaii's U.S. Representatives for Hawaii's 1st congressional district and Hawaii's 2nd congressional district, and branch offices of the United States Secret Service, Department of Homeland Security, United States Department of Justice, Central Intelligence Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service, Department of Veterans Affairs, among other entities.[3][4]

The building was named after Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole, heir to the throne of the overthrown Kingdom of Hawaiʻi, who served as Republican territorial delegate to the United States Congress from 1903 through 1922.[5] It was built on part of the former US Army Fort Armstrong, which was named for Samuel C. Armstrong (1839–1893), son of Hawaiian missionaries.[6] Across Ala Moana Boulevard is the Aloha Tower at the Honolulu harbor. Other parts of Fort Armstrong became a container terminal for military supplies.[7]

The Prince Kūhiō Building was constructed to replace the aging Federal Court, Customs House and Post Office building fronting ʻIolani Palace and adjacent to Aliʻiōlani Hale which had been built in 1922 and expanded in 1931.[8] After being mostly vacant, the old building was renovated and put up for sale. The old building was given back to the state of Hawaiʻi and was renamed the King David Kalākaua Building in December 2003.[9]

Construction of the Prince Kūhiō Federal Building was not without controversy. The General Services Administration wanted a simple tall office tower, while local architects argued for a building more appropriate to Hawaii.[10] Statutes provided that all buildings between the shoreline and the foot of Punchbowl Crater could not be taller than the Hawaiʻi State Capitol. The federal government, not legally limited by local statutes, defied the statutes and constructed the building as the tallest structure in the path of the capitol building's view of the shoreline. The complex includes ten stories of offices (including a penthouse level), connected by an enclosed bridge to a six story courthouse building (including basement).[11]

The Prince Kūhiō Federal Building was designed by Joseph G.F. Farrell's firm Architects Hawaii. Other government buildings designed by the firm include the capitol building of Palau, which opened in 2006.[12] The building was selected for $121 million of renovations as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The plan is to make the building more efficient by upgrading its mechanical, electrical, fire-safety, and plumbing systems.[4] It had already been cited as an efficient building by the Energy Star program.[2] Traces of asbestos were discovered during the first phase.[13] The second phase of construction was approved in March 2011.[11]

References

  1. ↑ "Hawaii Buildings and Properties". US General Services Administration web site. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
  2. 1 2 "Prince Kuhio Kalanianole Federal Building/Courthouse". US Energy Star web site. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Federal Departments" (PDF). Directory of State, County and Federal Officials in Hawaii. April 1, 2005. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
  4. 1 2 "Prince Jonah Kuhio Kanaianaole Federal Building, Honolulu". US General Services Administration web site. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
  5. ↑ Pat Omandam (September 20, 1999). "Kuhio’s advice still relevant today". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
  6. ↑ Mary Kawena Pukui, Samuel Hoyt Elbert and Esther T. Mookini (2004). "lookup of Armstrong ". in Place Names of Hawai'i. Ulukau, the Hawaiian Electronic Library, University of Hawaii Press. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Fort Armstrong Container Terminal Improvements" (PDF). Environmental Assessment. August 1992. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
  8. ↑ "U.S. Post Office, Court House, and Custom House; Honolulu, Hawaii". History of the Federal Judiciary. US Federal Judicial Center. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
  9. ↑ Gordon Y.K. Pang (December 30, 2003). "Old post office assumes new role". Honolulu Advertiser. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
  10. ↑ A. Kam Napier (December 2008). "Rare Editions". Honolulu Magazine. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
  11. 1 2 "Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Federal Building and Courthouse" (PDF). Prospectus Number: PHI-0011-H012. General Services Administration. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
  12. ↑ Mike Leidemann (November 12, 2006). "Pride in Palau for new Capitol". Honolulu Advertiser. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
  13. ↑ June Watanabe (September 1, 2010). "Federal Building renovations prompt asbestos concerns". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Retrieved April 2, 2011.

Coordinates: 21°18′13″N 157°51′44″W / 21.30361°N 157.86222°W / 21.30361; -157.86222

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