Downtown in Honolulu in Honolulu County, Hawaii — Hawaiian Island Archipelago (Pacific Ocean)

Kamehameha V Post Office 1870

Corner of Merchant and Bethel Streets

— Chinatown —

Kamehameha V Post Office 1870 Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, Sept 2016

1. Kamehameha V Post Office 1870 Marker

Inscription. The Kamehameha V Post office was the first building in Hawaii constructed from pre-cast concrete block, reinforced by iron bars. David Kalakaua, later Hawaii's Monarch, ran the postal services from 1862-1865. Recognizing the need for a new building, King Kamehameha V laid the cornerstone on March 2, 1870. The Kingdom of Hawaii initially used the space for a variety of official purposes, but in 1884, the postal department took possession of the whole building. In 1922, when the postal operations moved to the new Federal post office near the Palace, the building became the Territorial tax office overflow quarters for the district court. In 1993, the State renovated the building for use by Kumu Kahua theater.

Erected by City and County of Honolulu, State of Hawaii.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Communications • Entertainment • Government & Politics. In addition, it is included in the Postal Mail and Philately series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1922.

Location. 21° 18.58′ N, 157° 51.793′ W. Marker is in Honolulu, Hawaii, in

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Honolulu County. It is in Downtown. It is on Bethel Street east of Merchant Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 44 Merchant St, Honolulu HI 96813, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in North America,

Polynesia,

the Pacific Ocean,

North Pacific,

the Pacific Rim,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Old Police Station 1930 (within shouting distance of this marker); Hawaii Theatre 1922 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Iolani Palace (approx. 0.3 miles away); Aliiolani Hale (approx. 0.4 miles away); King Kamehameha I (approx. 0.4 miles away); Site of the First Royal Mausoleum and Crypt (approx. 0.4 miles away); Paepae Kapu o Liloa or The sacred threshold of Liloa (approx. 0.4 miles away); Capt. James Cook (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Honolulu.

1870 Kamehameha V Post Office image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, Sept 2016

2. 1870 Kamehameha V Post Office

The marker hangs to the right of the door.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 18, 2025, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. This page has been viewed 52 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 18, 2025, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.