The Monarchy Gallery

The Monarchy Gallery documents the transition of the legal system from the traditional Hawaiian kapu to the 19th century western-styled court system. The first jury chair, models of the first courthouse and downtown Honolulu in the 1850's help you imagine what life was like in the Kingdom of Hawai'i.

The Restored 1913 Courtroom

Equipped with authentic furnishings, the Restored 1913 Courtroom was the site of the famous Massie Trial in 1930's Territorial Hawai'i. Today, this stately courtroom is the venue for lectures, dramatizations, mock trials, and other public programs. Feel free to take pictures in the judge's seat!

Hawai'i Under Martial Law

Discover how within hours of the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 daily life in Hawai'i drastically changed. Learn about the military government, the general orders and the provost courts. Walking through the exhibit you can get a feeling for what life was like during Hawai'i's war years and a better understanding of the extraordinary events that shaped our island history.

The History Center Theater

You can view a selection of DVD presentations in our History Center Theater:

Law of the Land illustrates the changes from traditional, shared-land use rights to the western concept of private property ownership. Land divisions, life in the ahupa'a, the Great Mahele, and current land laws are subjects touched upon in this provocative presentation.

Kanawai shows the changing attitudes towards water and water usage in the 19th century. This presentation examines the landmark surface water case of Peck v Baily and familiarizes viewers with the transition from traditional water rights to a western system of water rights.

Oni v Meek brings to life characters from an 1850's case that illustrates a transitional period of land tenure in Hawai'i. The presentation orients students and prepares them for the hands-on trial they reenact in our 1913 Courtroom.

When Fear Reigned delves into the declaration of martial law and the suspension of civil liberties in Hawai'i during World War II. This presentation examines the writ of habeus corpus and the detainment without trial of well over 1000 residents of the territory of Hawai'i.