The King Kamehameha V Judiciary History Center is in historic Aliiolani Hale. The building was constructed by and named in honor of Kamehameha V, who ascended to the throne in 1863. When Aliiolani Hale opened in 1874, it served as the Kingdom of Hawaii’s Capitol building, housing the Legislature, the Treasury, Boards of Health and Education, and the Supreme Court. Aliiolani Hale was also home to the national museum, an observatory, and a library. Today the building is the home of the Hawaii State Supreme Court, Judiciary administration offices, the Judiciary History Center, and a law library.

We invite you to journey with us through 1,000 years of judicial history from the kapu system of ancient Hawaii to the laws and courts of our current system.