| Part 1 Honolulu
| Part 2 Warming Up | Part 3 Race
Day |
Part 1
The Honolulu Scene
Blue water, coconut palm trees, surfing in the sunshine! It's Paradise!
But....Hawaii is so much more!
Getting Acquainted with the Culture
Hawaii is a group of eight islands: Oahu, Maui, Hawaii (Big Island) Kauai,
Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe and Niihau. Oahu, an island of 594 square miles,
and nicknamed "The Gathering Place," is the host of the Iolani
Invitational. Oahu's nearly one million residents live or gather mainly
around Honolulu, the largest city in Hawaii. To appreciate the Iolani
Meet is to understand and take pleasure in the culture, history and scenes
from Oahu, Hawaii.
The Royal History
The Hawaiian culture begins with a group of Polynesians
from the South Pacific settling on the islands after the birth of
Christ. But the islands weren't "Hawaii" until 1795 when
Kamehameha I unified them into a kingdom and established a monarchy.
He and his family ruled until 1872 and were followed by other families.
Intermarriage outside of the royal family was permitted. As a result
some of the royal family married influential business and civic
leaders creating a blend of cultures and families that is very common
in Hawaii.
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Unlike most other
nations, the royal succession in Hawaii did not descend from
the father. Instead, each monarch designated his own official
successor. In 1872 when the only two known surviving descendants
of Kamehameha I refused the crown, a successor was chosen
by vote of the Legislature as stipulated in a constitution
established by Kamehameha III. Queen Lili'uokalani was selected
by King Kalakaua as his heir. She reigned from 1891-1893 as
the last Hawaiian monarch until she was betrayed and overthrown
by a faction that wanted to join with the United States..
The monarchy was followed by a republic govenment that lasted
three years. In 1898 Hawaii was annexed by the United States
and became a territory in 1900. Hawaii became the 50th State
of the United States in 1959.
The Hawaiin royality were well educated and influenced by
the cultures of Great Britian and the United States. Such
influence can be seen in many aspects of their lives including
dress and architecture. |
King Kamehameha I, the conqueror and unifier,
welcomes all visitors to downtown Honolulu. |
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Bishop Museum
Bishop Museum was founded in 1889 by Charles Reed Bishop in honor
of his late wife, Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, the last descendant
of the royal Kamehameha family.
The mueum has been designated the State Museum on Natural and
Cultural History and is recognized as the premier guardian, chronicler
and exhibitor of the Hawaiian culture and heritage.
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On the grounds of the Bishop Museum sits
a replica of a moai donated by the Japanese government. |
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Some
of the exhibits at the museum tell a sweet tale.
The Bishop Museum tells the story of Chocolate in
Hawaii. |
The new and old meet in the downtown area. Many historical
and government buildings are mingled together. |
The Royal Grounds |
Iolani Palace, the only royal palace
in the US was completed in 1882. It later served as the territorial
and state capitol until the 1960's. |
In the shadow of the modern buildings, the Palace
Guardhouse now used as the Visitor's Center. |
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Historic Trail |
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Burial site of King William Charles Lunalilo
(1835-1872) The People's King wanted to be buried in the common cemetary.
He refused to name a successor and insisted that the choice of the
next monarch be up to the people. |
Kawaiahao Church--The Great Stone Church. Built
in 1841 it is the oldest church in Honolulu. It was the chapel to
the Hawaiian monarchs and was the site of royal inaugurations, weddings
and funerals. The building is constructed from giant coral slabs.
The slabs were quarried from under water by the natives. Each slab
weighed more than a 1000 pounds. Natives dove 10-20 feet and hand
chiselled these pieces from the reef. There are about 14,000 of these
slabs in the church. |
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Mission House Museum. Three buildings
that date back to the 19th century where the first Christian missionaries
first lived and worked. |
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More Sites |
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The Hawaii State Capitol. Opened in 1969, the
building houses the offices of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and
the state legislature, the structure symbolizes elements of Hawaii.
The conic shape of the legislative chambers represents volcanoes,
the 40 pillars encircling the building represent the native royal
palm trees, and the water surrounding the structure is symbolic of
the Pacific. |
The Honolulu Hale or City Hall. Built in 1928,
this is a landmark structure that reflects the California-Spanish
architectural design popular in the islands during the 1920's. |
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The military-past and present-maintains
a presence on Oahu. |
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Hawaii hosts the headquarters for the commander U.S.
Pacific Fleet. |
Reminders of Pearl Harbor attack are very visible in
the area: Battleship Missouri, USS Bowfish Submarine (Pearl Harbor
Avenger) Museum and the Arizona Memoria. |
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Trees on the Iolani Palace Grounds
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Iolani Invitational
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