WASHINGTON PLACE CELEBRATES THE HOLIDAY SEASON
For Immediate Release: December 4, 2006
HONOLULU – Washington Place the historic home of Queen Lili`uokalani and
Hawai`i’s governors welcomes visitors to celebrate the holiday season at a
special Open House with musical performances by Hawai’i Opera Theatre in the
newly refurbished Glassed Lanai and harpist, Ruth Freedman in the upstairs
chambers. To recapture the early holiday celebrations, the second floor of
Washington Place, slated for future restoration and galleries, will feature
a fanciful Victorian Christmas tree that might well have been decorated by
Mary Dominis herself. Photographs of Christmas throughout the
years at Washington Place with the former First Families will also be
exhibited.
Lt. Governor James R. Duke Aiona, Jr. and Mrs. Vivian Aiona will greet the public (from 5:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.) on Sunday, December 10, 2006 at the Open House which closes at 8:00 p.m. Visitors are invited to take a free guided stroll though the 159-year-old home to learn more about the occasion that sparked Christmas celebrations in Hawai`i.
A Children’s Christmas
In an upstairs suite of the 1847 Greek-Revival mansion built by the wealthy
Captain John Dominis, the Christmas tree made one of its first appearances
in the Islands. Mary Dominis, widow of the captain, is said to have
grown the tree from a sprig that arrived in the Sandwich Islands by ship a
few years earlier. She hosted a magnificent party in 1858 for a
hundred children and their parents, establishing the Christmas tradition in
the Hawaiian Islands, then ruled by King Kamehameha IV. Mrs. Dominis’ tree
decked with gifts and the Santa Claus she arranged to spread cheer made this
a memorable event that was remembered for years by the citizens of
Honolulu.
Lili`uokalani came to live at Washington Place in 1862, as bride of John
Owen Dominis, son of the Captain and his wife, Mary. That same year, King
Kamehameha IV proclaimed Christmas a national holiday in the Kingdom of
Hawai`i. This year, Hawai`i’s children are invited to help place a Victorian
ornament on the tree (ornaments will be provided.)
The Musical Tradition at Washington Place
The musical tradition at Washington Place dates back to its earliest days.
The sound of piano music has always resounded through the home. Queen
Lili`uokalani, its most prominent resident was, herself, a noted composer
and musician. It is a pleasure to welcome Hawai`i Opera Theatre’s young
studio artists—sopranists, Amy Healey and Malia Ka`ai and tenor, Kawika
Maguire who will sing arias, art songs and music of the season from 6:00
p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Hawai`i Opera Theatre’s Mae Z. Orvis Opera Studio
provides operatic training for upcoming professionals. Hawai’i Opera Theatre
presents world-class productions featuring international opera performers
throughout the year. Harpist Ruth Freedman, noted for her “harp
therapy” will play classical holiday selections from her vast musical
repertory.
2006 Washington Place Foundation Christmas Ornament
A sample of the 2006 Washington Place Foundation Christmas Ornament and
order forms will be available for visitors [there will be no sales of
ornaments at Washington Place]. This year’s ornament is a design patterned
after a motif on the cast iron lamp standards introduced to the gardens of
Washington Place in 1926, during Governor Wallace Rider Farrington’s
residency. The garden theme is also reflected in the Glassed Lanai,
originally built in 1922, the year Washington Place became official home to
Hawai`i’s first Territorial governor. This year, the Washington Place
Foundation refurbished this room to the era of the 1920s. Proceeds from
ornaments sales will help fund future programming and garden projects;
donations to a Christmas calabash are also welcome.
All guests will be required to present a picture ID upon entrance to the property and may be subject to a bag inspection.
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For more information, contact:
Corinne Chun Fujimoto
Curator
Washington Place
Phone: 586-0249
