St. Andrews Cathedral

With support from Queen Victoria of England, Hawaii’s own Queen Emma desired a Gothic-style building to show her appreciation for Western architecture. Completed in 1886, St. Andrews Cathedral was built from fabricated pieces that were shipped from England to Hawaii. The Downtown Honolulu cathedral is now the home of the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Hawaii. Huge, hand-blown stained glass on the building’s west side depict European explorers arriving in the Hawaiian Islands. Nearby you'll find other landmarks like the Hawaii State Capitol Building and the Eternal Flame Memorial.

History

The unforeseen death of King Kamehameha IV on St. Andrew’s Day of 1863, influenced Kamehameha V to dedicate the cathedral to St. Andrew as a memorial to a his older brother. In 1973, the cathedral was added to the National Register of Historic Places, joining Oahu landmarks such as Punchbowl National Cemetery of the Pacific and the nearby Kawaiahao Church.

• How long we stop here on tour: Drive-by Only
• Location: Queen Emma Square, Historic Honolulu District, Oahu.
• Insider Tip: St Andrew’s cathedral celebrates Holy Week, including Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil.
• Fun Fact: There are only four cathedrals in Hawaii, and St. Andrew’s is one of them!
• What To Expect: Historic sites and buldings of downtown Honolulu, Washington Place, and the Hawaii State Capitol.