Hawaii State Capitol

The Hawaii State Capitol is a five-story reinforced concrete building with an open central courtyard.

The Hawaii State Capitol is a five-story reinforced concrete building with an open central courtyard. A ring of exposed concrete columns rise from the reflecting pool to support the actual roof—the fourth floor—which cantilevers out from the flat vaults at the tops of the columns. The Capitol was designed to reflect the historical and cultural significance, as well as the natural beauty, of the Hawaiian Islands; included within its structural components are symbolic references to coconut palm trees, the volcanoes from which the islands were created, and the surrounding Pacific Ocean. The courtyard features a glass mosaic floor mural called “Aquarius,” designed by Tadashi Sato and representing the movement of dappled light and underwater formations in shades of blue and green.

‍