Governor Josh Green, M.D.

By Travis Hancock, curator of Washington Place 

Heading into fall, the staff and volunteers at Washington Place are still reflecting on the poignant return of Queen Liliʻuokalani’s Royal Standard this past summer. The preci­­­ous­­ness of such rare and important pieces of our shared history only grew in magnitude when so much was lost just a few weeks later on Maui. With that tragedy has come increased kuleana to preserve and share all we can. We look forward to providing further updates on the forthcoming replica, which will enable us to tell the standard’s story, while allowing the original standard to undergo much-needed conservation work at the Hawaiʻi State Archives. In the meantime, a full video of the procession and presentation is now available via ʻŌlelo Community Media at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxRuGVs-Nls. 

Building on our summer commemoration of the Queen’s legacy, on September 2 we gladly opened Washington Place to celebrate her 185th birthday, in keeping with a tradition she started. Members of the public took tours with our volunteer docents, learned hula, strung crown flower lei, and made other island crafts. Students from the Hawaiʻi Youth Opera Chorus, led by Nola Nāhulu, taught guests some of the Queen’s mele as well. By the day’s end, the Queen’s portrait in the Glassed Lānai was adorned with many lei, given as hoʻokupu (tribute or offering).  

Then, on September 16, the 161st anniversary of the Queen’s marriage to John Owen Dominis and the day on which she first moved into Washington Place, we welcomed a special group of families to the home, many for the first time. These were grieving members of our island community, hosted by the Liliʻuokakani Trust’s H.O.P.E. (Helping Our People Emerge) program, who were given a special day devoted to healing ahead of the holiday season. They made more crown flower lei for the Queen, toured the home, and released monarch butterflies on the lawn as a symbol of metamorphosis and growth. 

It is clear that we must hold dear to us the history that tells the stories of our past so the knowledge can be shared with future generations. Learn how to sign up for a tour and learn more about the rich history of Washington Place, the historic home of Queen Lili‘uokalani, and the current home of Hawaiʻi’s Governor here: https://washingtonplace.hawaii.gov/tours-and-gardens/.