Oahu Non-Designated

What Is It? These four buildings next to the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa’s Campus Center constitute some of the oldest buildings on campus—their small size a reminder of how much the school has grown since its early days. One of them, the Engineering Materials Testing Laboratory, built in 1915, is predated only by Hawai‘i Hall. The buildings housed the Engineering School until 1959. Today, they provide a home for Ka Leo, UH’s student newspaper, the Board of Publications, Student Support Services, Duplicating Services and the now-empty Beau Press. What threatens it? A proposed $38 million expansion of the Campus Center that would include a fitness center and gym for students, as well as a heritage corridor commemorating the university’s 100-year-history. The footprint of the new complex, at least as it’s currently planned, lies directly over the historic quad, meaning the four buildings would need to be demolished to make way. Astrid Liverman, architectural branch chief at the state Historic Preservation Division, says, “It’s ironic that in order to build a Heritage Corridor, they’re going to remove the heritage.” What can be done? Because UH Mānoa is a state agency, it’s required by law to get the concurrence of the SHPD before starting any project that impacts historic property. Liverman has thus far opposed the idea of demolishing the Engineering Quad buildings, and says she’s holding out either for a revised plan that incorporates the four buildings into the new complex, or at least a compromise that saves some of the buildings. Kathy Cutshaw, the UH Mānoa vice chancellor for administration, finance and operations, is overseeing the project, but didn’t return our calls.

Address 2259 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, HI Built 1927 Designed By Warren & Wetmore Abstract The Royal Hawaiian opened on February 1, 1927.  At a cost of $4 million dollars, it was the largest construction project in the Pacific at that time. The architects were the New York based premier hotel designers, Warren & Wetmore, who were known for their other hotels including NYCs Ritz-Carlton, Biltmore, Belmont, Vanderbilt and Chatham hotels. Today, the Royal Hawaiian remains a landmark of the famous Waikiki beach. The land beneath the Royal Hawaiian is owned by Kamehameha Schools, a trust founded by Bernice Pauahi Bishop, heir to the Kamehameha dynasty, to support a school for the children of Hawaii. The hotel itself is owned by Kyo-ya Hotels and Resorts, which leases the land from Kamehameha Schools.  Marriott manages it under its current official name, "The Royal Hawaiian, A Luxury Collection Resort." Learn about the Royal Hawaiian Hotel The history of the land Building the Pink Palace Room-by-Room look at the hotel Special thanks to Minatoishi Architects which provided photographs and information contained in this Royal Hawaiian Hotel feature.

Built 1921 Abstract The reinforced concrete bridge over Anahulu Stream is known as Rainbow Bridge for its distinctive double arches.  One of the most recognized symbols of Hale‘iwa, the bridge replaced an earlier wooden structure in 1921.

Address 1511 Nuuanu Ave, Honolulu, HI 96817 Built 1964 Designed By Minoru Yamasaki & Associates Abstract 587 apartments in two high-rise buildings are conveniently situated on an 8-acre site with view of the mountains and the ocean. The design was selected as part of a design competition.

Address 3588 Waialae Ave, Honolulu, HI 96816 Built 1936 Abstract The Queen Theater, near the top of Wai‘alae Avenue in Kaimukı, is a survivor from the golden age of cinema. Built in 1936, the 850-seat theater hosted everything from traveling vaudeville shows to 25-cent matinées. In later years, it became a second-run theater that hosted midnight showings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show and then a XXX theater that was eventually raided by the police in the mid-1980s. It’s lain dormant ever since, but its fading art deco façade still tantalizes theater buffs and neighborhood activists. Lowell Angell, a local theater historian, says, “It’s still one of the few, if not the only, remaining theater facilities that could be renovated and put back into use.”   What threatens it? The reclusive owner of the Queen, Narciso Yu. It’s not that he wants to tear it down. Ginny Meade, executive director of the Greater East Honolulu Community Alliance, says, “Ciso used to tell me that he had a dream that it would be a theater again, and so he wouldn’t let it become a car parts store like the Cinerama.” But Yu has proved resistant to any other plans for the theater, including restoration. In fact, it’s nearly impossible to get a hold of him. “Everyone in the world wants to restore or purchase or do something with that place, and they all call me to find out what’s going on,” Meade says. These days, though, even she doesn’t know how to reach him.   What can be done? Not much, barring a change of heart on Yu’s part. Angell says cracking down on the landowner would probably not [...]

Address 1451 Queen Emma St, Honolulu, HI 96813 TMK (1) 2-10-019:014 Built 1961 Designed By Vladimir Ossipoff, Merrill, Sims and Roehrig, Harry Seckel Abstract The Pacific Club was founded in 1851 and was built in 1961. The design and plans were produced in association with the firm Merrill, Simms and Roehrig and Harry Seckel, with master architect Vladimir Oddipoff as the project leader. The restrained and precise spatial organization creates a natural flow between inside and out, achieving an open feeling to bring the building into close association with the club’s extensive garden and lawn areas. The structure is mainly steel with masonry bearing walls and a concrete foundation. The exterior walls are cement stucco, and inside the walls are paneled with koa. The Pacific Club houses a dining room, a restaurant-type kitchen, lounge and cocktail areas; a library, and a card room. Recreational facilities includes a swimming pool and tennis courts, and exercise and locker rooms are located on a lower terrace.  

Address 5839/5841 Kalanianaole Highway, Honolulu, HI 96821 Built 1922 Designed By The New York firm of York & Sawyer What is it? This fishpond in Niu Valley sits on what was once King Kamehameha’s kalo patch. Thanks to the freshwater artestian spring that feeds it, it was once one of Oahu’s most thriving and productive fishponds, housing ‘awa, ahole-hole, mullet and other favorites. Local residents may also know it as Lucas Pond, after the family that inherited the land from Kamehameha. What threatens it? Kalauha‘eha‘e was last used as a working fishpond in the mid-’90s. It became a casualty of the state’s Kalananiana‘ole Highway widening project, when roadwork disrupted the pond’s supply of fresh water. Since then, the state Department of Transportation, which bought the land containing the pond as part of the widening project, has kept the pond unused and off-limits to the public. As director Brennon Morioka points out, “The DOT is not a residential landowner. We’re highway owners.” As such, the department has been trying to dispose of the property, initially by planning a public auction. What can be done? Chris Cramer of the nonprofit Maunalua Fishpond Heritage Center has been promoting the idea of instead transferring the fishpond to the University of Hawai‘i, specifically the Center for Hawaiian Studies, which could restore and use the site as an educational resource for its students. The DOT has so far been receptive to the idea, as long as it can receive fair market value for the lot (a federal requirement), says Morioka. In the event that UH does take over the property, it’s still going to require a lot of additional work. “The fishpond itself is [...]

Address Kamehameha Highway at Kalauao Spring (west of Pali Momi Street) Built 1936, 1945, 1966 Abstract Kamehameha Hwy has been a major transportation route through the Pearl City/ Aiea area since the early decades of the 20th century.  The bridges constructed over this crossing at Kalauao Spring have been significantly integral to its development as an effective transportation route and have contributed meaningfully to development of this geographic area.  They also have facilitated major passage through the area to points east and west that are served by the highway and are representative of important public works projects initiated by the Territorial and State governments. This bridge is considered historic because of its association with the roadway infrastructure of Kamehameha Hwy in the Pearl City/Aiea area.

Address Honouliuli Stream, Ewa, HI 96706 Built 1939 Abstract The Honouliuli Stream Bridge is a single-span, reinforced concrete tee-beam structure with a span length of 54 feet and a width of 32 feet.  It rises about 10 over the stream bed.  The decorative railings, with elongated Greek-cross voids, are typical of the era in which it was built.  Built in 1939, this Farrington Road bridge crosses the Honouliuli Stream, representing a transportation improvement for the whole Leeward Community.  Up until that point, the Waianae Road (before it was named Farrington Road) traversed the stream via a winding path over a smaller bridge which can still be seen on the makai side of the Kahi Mohall complex.

Address 1240 Ala Moana Blvd Honolulu, HI 96814 Built early 1960's Designed By Vladimir Ossipoff What is it? Vladimir Ossipoff designed this Ala Moana Boulevard office building for the IBM Corp. in the early 1960s. It boasted a straightforward layout, and niceties such as a distinctive grille that's made it one of Honolulu s most iconic buildings. "It's an interesting and worthwhile remnant of Hawaii’s 1960s period," says Sydney Snyder, Ossipoff s long time architectural partner. "It's from that era when people put grilles on everything. This grille survived because it was unique and more elegant than most." What threatens it? The building is actually in good shape, and in use. But General Growth Properties wants to tear it down as part of its master plan for the 60-acre Ward Centre complex. Jan Yokota, GGP vice president of development, says it's too early to say when exactly demolition might happen. We’re planning a mix of mid and high rise buildings throughout the 60 acres [over the next 30 years]. But we haven't designed any of the buildings yet, and have not settled on a phasing plan yet." What can be done? The Hawai‘i Community Development Authority is currently reviewing GGP's master plan, but the IBM Building isn’t currently on the HCDAs must save list, according to communications director Craig Nakamoto. "If the landowner wants to designate or get a building nominated as a historic building, the HCDA will do everything it can to support that. But any initiative to do that would have to come from General Growth Properties." In any case, it will likely be at least a few years before the wrecking ball swings, leaving open [...]