---

Who’s the ugliest
of them all?

The finalists have been chosen for the "Honolulu Lite Ugliest Building in Honolulu" contest. And I must say that the sheer disgust, disdain and repulsion that certain forms of architecture bring out in people is nothing short of inspiring.

Vote on your favorite ugly building from the following list by e-mail at cmemminger@starbulletin.com or leaving by message at 235-6490.

STAR-BULLETIN Among the candidates in a poll to determine Oahu's ugliest buildings are Waterfront Towers.... STAR-BULLETIN ...the Federal Building... STAR-BULLETIN ...the Japanese Cultural Center.... STAR-BULLETIN .... and Aloha Stadium.

A short, clever description of why you find the building so hideous is encouraged. A special thanks to Michael W. Perry and his KSSK radio listeners for their input. The winner will be announced on March 20.

Here are the finalists (with remarks by readers and/or yours truly):

» The Pacific Guardian Tower at Keeaumoku Street and Ala Moana. Variously described as the "Darth Vader Building," the "Batman Building" and a "midnight-hued thing."

» The Queen Emma Building in Queen Emma Square, affectionately known at the "building with warts" and "the pimple building" because of the disturbing protruding brickwork that makes it a rock climber's dream.

» The former "Gold Bond" building, a "big, bulky rectangular blob on Ala Moana."

» The Architecture Building at the University of Hawaii. An "uninspiring and inward-looking Greek Revival cracker box or self-storage warehouse."

» Waterfront Towers in Kakaako, which resemble "upright vacuum cleaners" or two gigantic harmonicas pounded into the ground with a croquet mallet.

» Japanese Cultural Center on Beretania Street. A "cold stone cement structure with a police car parked in front 24 hours a day, making it look like a maximum-security prison."

» Occidental Life Insurance building on Beretania Street, which looks "like an air traffic control tower at a Podunk regional airport" or an "'occident' that couldn't wait to happen."

» Aloha Stadium. "Awful parking, awful design, awful concessions, awful viewing ... in a word ... awful."

» The Federal Building on Ala Moana. A perfect representation of the federal government: imposing, featureless, impregnable, with so many antennae on top it looks like boxing promoter Don King on a bad hair day. It has all the appeal of a place that should be avoided at all costs.