Washington Place

Hawaiʻi

Residents

Learn about the original residents of Washington Place.

Captain John Dominis

Captain John Dominis was an Italian American ship captain and merchant who began the construction of Washington Place in 1842. At the time, Hawaiʻi was an independent kingdom, ruled by the son of Kamehameha the Great, Kauikeaouli – King Kamehameha III. Unfortunately, Captain Dominis never saw the completion of his home. He was lost at sea in late 1846 on a voyage to China aboard American Brig William Neilson to purchase furniture for his new home.[1]
Captain John Dominis
Captain John Dominis [2]

History

Born:

March 15, 1792 in Trieste, Italy

Occupation:

Sea Merchant, Trader

Spouse:

Mary Lambert Dominis

Children:

Mary Elizabeth Dominis
Frances Ann Dominis
John Owen Dominis

Arrived in Hawaiʻi:

April 23, 1837

Death:

1846 lost at sea[3]

Mary Dominis

Mary Dominis was wife of Captain John Dominis and the mother of John Owen Dominis. Since her husband was often at sea, Mary oversaw the construction of Washington Place and completed the project.[4] When her husband was lost at sea, she completed the construction of the home. She took in boarders to help pay for mounting expenses.[5] Mary is known to have created the first European-style garden in Hawaiʻi. She is also credited for bringing Santa Claus and the Christmas tree to Hawaiʻi when she invited children to Washington Place for a holiday party.[6]

History

Born:

August 3, 1803,
Boston, Massachusetts

Spouse:

Captain John Dominis

Children:

Mary Elizabeth Dominis
Frances Ann Dominis
John Owen Dominis

Arrived in Hawaiʻi:

April 23, 1837

Death:

April 25, 1889, Washington Place, Honolulu[7]

Anthony Ten Eyck

Anthony Ten Eyck gave Washington Place its name. He was appointed by President James Polk as U.S. Commissioner to Hawaiʻi. He was the first lodger in the home and named the home in honor of George Washington on his birthday in 1848.

Ten Eyck sought approval from King Kamehameha III to name the house Washington Place.[8] On February 22, 1848 King Kamehameha III granted approval and decreed that the name be retained “in all time coming.”[9]

Documents Naming Washington Place
Documents Naming Washington Place [10]

John Owen Dominis

John Owen Dominis was husband to Queen Liliʻuokalani. He was Prince Consort of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi. He held several prominent positions within the government of the Hawaiian Kingdom including General and Commander of the Armies, secretary to King Kamehameha IV and King Kamehameha V, and the governor of Oʻahu and Maui under King Kamehameha V.

He met Lydia Pāki (later to be name Liliʻuokalani) during his school days. He and Lydia were married on September 16, 1862. When his mother Mary died, he and Liliʻuokalani inherited Washington Place. John Owen Dominis died less than a year after Liliʻuokalani became queen.

John Owen Dominis
John Owen Dominis [11]

History

Born:

March 10, 1832, Schnectady, New York

Occupation:

Royal Governor of Oʻahu, Royal Governor of Maui

Title:

Prince Consort, Kingdom of Hawaiʻi

Spouse:

Queen Liliʻuokalani

Children:

John Aimoku Dominis

Arrived in Hawaiʻi:

April 23, 1837 at the age of 5

Death:

August 27, 1891, Washington Place, Honolulu

Citations

  • [1] Mason Architects, Inc. and Kenneth Hays for Department of Accounting and General Services, State of Hawaiʻi, Washington Place Architectural Conservation Plan. October 2007, p 2-22-2-24
  • [2] Hawaiʻi State Archives, PP-71-2-019
  • [3] Mason Architects, Inc. and Hays, Washington Place Architectural Conservation Plan, p.23-23
  • [4] United States Department of the Interior National Park Service Historical Documentation Program, Washington Place Historic American Building Survey. HABS No. HI-6. 2007. P.22
  • [5] Mason Architects, Inc. and Kenneth Hays, Washington Place Architectural Conservation Plan, p. 2-34
  • [6] The Polynesian, January 1859 (Christmas tree)
    Pacific Commercial Advertiser, December 30, 1858, p 2 (Santa Claus)
    The Spoehr Foundation, Na Mo’olelo Kalikimaka O Hawaii Nei: Hawaiʻi’s Christmas Stories, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 2018, p 21
  • [7] Mason Architects, Inc. and Hays, Washington Place Architectural Conservation Plan, p.2-25
  • [8] Mason Architects, Inc. and Hays, Washington Place Architectural Conservation Plan, p.2-32-33
  • [9] State of Hawaiʻi Archives. Letter from Anthony Ten Eyck to King Kamehameha III.
  • [10] Hawaiʻi State Archives, 402-22-463 and Hawaiʻi State Archives 404-30-422
  • [11] Hawaiʻi State Archives, PP-71-2-020

About Washington Place

Washington Place has remained at the heart of Hawaiʻi’s Capitol in downtown Honolulu, Oʻahu. Best known as the home of Hawaiʻi’s beloved Queen Liliʻuokalani, this National Historic Landmark is the only official residence of a state governor in the United States that was also home to a monarch. Today, the home is managed by the State of Hawaiʻi, Department of Accounting and General Services.

Contact Us

320 South Beretania Street
Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96813

Copyright © 2024, Washington Place, All Rights Reserved