Abstract
The La Pietra Townhouse is a multiple property nomination. The townhouse was conceived in 1967 and built in 1971 by architect Louis Pursel and developer Bert Williams. The site was landscaped by San Francisco landscape architecture firm Eckbo, Dean, Austin and Williams. The site is comprised of 19 duplexes and 38 units, although the listing is comprised of only10 units.
The dwelling units at La Pietra Townhouses are significant on the local level under Criterion C, as a very good example of a luxury townhouse unit built in Honolulu during the late 1960s-early 1970s in a modern Hawai‘i style. The design is based on open flowing interior spaces, use of local lava rock and low-pitched hip-gable roofs, with overhanding eaves and exposed rafter tails. The extensive indoor-outdoor opportunities are typical of Hawai‘i’s regional architecture in the modern style.
The dwelling units are significant at the local level under criterion A for their associations with the development of townhouse complexes in Hawai‘i. Unusual for the time, the La Pietra Townhouses are the employment of duplexes, as well as the size of the individual units, with 2,228 square feet of living space, and the size and privacy of the back yards. The development’s amount of green, open space is significant. They are also significant for associations with historic preservation in Hawai‘i. The call for the need to preserve La Pietra, which had been slated for demolition, was among early successful public outcries against a large-scale private development proposal in the name of historic preservation.
This list of Hawaii’s historic properties is provided as a public service by Historic Hawaii Foundation. It is not the official list of properties designated on the Hawaii State Register of Historic Places. For official designations and determinations of eligibility, contact the State Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Land and Natural Resources of the State of Hawaii at 808-692-8015.
Unit 1: Al and Vivian Phillips Residence
Address
3005 La Pietra Circle
TMK
(1) 3-1-029:0330001
Unit 6: James Ariyoshi and H. Robert Hampton Apartment
Address
3022 La Pietra Circle
TMK
310290330006
Unit 7: Harold and Lucille Headrick Residence
Address
3030 La Pietra Circle
TMK
(1) 3-1-029:0330007
Unit 9: Raymond and Grace Headrick Residence
Address
3036 La Pietra Circle
TMK
(1) 3-1-029:0330009
Unit 13: Duane and Harriet Wedman Residence
Address
3066 La Pietra Circle
TMK
310290330013
Unit 14: John C. Cavanagh Residence
Address
3068 La Pietra Circle
TMK
(1) 3-1-029:0330014
Unit 15: Victor and Dorothy Hawthorne Residence
Address
3082 La Pietra Circle
TMK
(1) 3-1-029:0330015
Unit 16: Heigo and Irene Shen Residence Address
Address
3084 La Pietra Circle
TMK
(1) 3-1-029:0330016
Unit 17: Russell and Jacqueline Jensen Residence
Address
3086 La Pietra Circle
TMK
310290330017
Unit 18: Lawrence and Leatrice Fung Residence
Address
3088 La Pietra Circle
TMK
310290330018
Unit 20: Bunmeido of Hawai‘i Ltd. Company House
Address
3089 La Pietra Circle
TMK
(1) 3-1-029:0330020
Unit 22: James F. and Nancy Dunn Investment Property
Address
3085 La Pietra Circle
TMK
(1) 3-1-029:0330022
Unit 25: Eugene and Diedre Lau Residence
Address
3079 La Pietra Circle
TMK
(1) 3-1-029:0330025
Unit 26: Chuck and Karen Mau Residence
Address
3077 La Pietra Circle
TMK
310290330026
Unit 32: Lawrence and Audrey Pricher Residence
Address
3065 La Pietra Circle
TMK
(1) 3-1-029:0330032
Unit 35: Louis and Betty Rodrigues Residence
Address
3057 La Pietra Circle
TMK
310290330035
Unit 36: John W. McDermott Residence
Address
3055 La Pietra Circle
TMK
(1) 3-1-029:0330036
Unit 37: Arthur and Orine Stuman Residence
Address
3051 La Pietra Circle
TMK
(1) 3-1-029:0330037
Unit 38: Charles and Mary Page Residence
Address
3049 La Pietra Circle
TMK
(1) 3-1-029:0330038