Address
76-5973 Māmalahoa Hwy, Hōlualoa, HI 97625
TMK
(3) 7-6-005: 036
SHPD Historic Site Number
50-10-37-30222
Historic Designations:
Hawai‘i Register of Historic Places 2014
Abstract
Built in 1895, the Hōlualoa Telephone Exchange Building is one of the very few remaining 19th century buildings in Kona. It is located in the village of Hōlualoa, at about the 1300 foot elevation, above Kailua-Kona on the Island of Hawai‘i. It is significant at the local level under Criterion A for significant contributions to broad patterns of history. The telephone exchange was the hub for development of telephony on the island and was the center of telephone operations for Ka‘ū, Kona and Kohala districts. It was a key milestone in completing the first around-the-island telephone service by connecting the west side to the Hilo, Hāmākua and Kohala districts’ lines.