The stone itself is a block quarried near the junction of Nuuanu and Pauoa Roads. Set close to the ground on one of the supports is a brass tablet inscribed in Latin. Above it, carved into granite, is an english translation which was placed there in 1867, marking the centennial of the laying of the original cornerstone. The translation reads:
"To the glory of Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and in memory of the most pious King of the Hawaiian Islands, King Kamehameha IV, who died on the feast of St. Andrew, 1863, his brother, the most Honorable King Kamehameha V, laid this cornerstone on the 5th day of March, 1867."
The sketch shown here was done by British artist G. H. Burgess who was visiting Hawai'i at the time. The picture shows the King, and behind him are Bishop Staley, the Rev. George Mason carrying the cross, Col. Curtis P. Iaukea, the Court Chamberlain, and other officials.
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The Cathedral Cornerstone

The cornerstone of The Cathedral of St. Andrew was laid by King Kamehameha V, assisted by Bishop Staley and the clergy on March 5, 1867. A large crowd gathered for the ceremony. The King arrived at noon accompanied by his staff and escorted by his entire military establishment, the Hawaiian Calvary, the Artillery Company, the Household Troops, and the Zouaves, all in dress uniform.
Originally, the Cathedral was to have been named for St. Peter; King Kamehameha V changed that when he decreed that it be dedicated to St. Andrew, on whose feast day his brother and predecessor, King Kamehameha IV had died. It was a worthy recognition of the man who, with his wife, had been primarily responsible for establishing the Anglican Church in Hawai'i and supporting the fledgling mission.
The cornerstone is located outside of the Cathedral to the back of the apse. It contains a parchment record of the foundation of the Episcopal Mission and the plans for the Cathedral, together with the names of lay members of the coporation and clergy, the Bishop's Seal, and English and Hawaiian prayer books.
Originally, the Cathedral was to have been named for St. Peter; King Kamehameha V changed that when he decreed that it be dedicated to St. Andrew, on whose feast day his brother and predecessor, King Kamehameha IV had died. It was a worthy recognition of the man who, with his wife, had been primarily responsible for establishing the Anglican Church in Hawai'i and supporting the fledgling mission.
The cornerstone is located outside of the Cathedral to the back of the apse. It contains a parchment record of the foundation of the Episcopal Mission and the plans for the Cathedral, together with the names of lay members of the coporation and clergy, the Bishop's Seal, and English and Hawaiian prayer books.