[ A WALKING TOUR ]
Missonary landmark
was built in 1915
Missionaries from New England began arriving in Hawaii around 1815 and, a century later, their descendants had bloomed throughout the islands. To celebrate this landmark date, the Hawaiian Evangelical Association decided to erect their own landmark -- an archive and museum, educational facility, office and meeting place, all constructed in red-brick, white-trim Georgian style, just like official structures all over New England.
This style, derived from the British monarchy, defined early structures of the American republic, and was also known as Greek Revival, thanks to the promiscuous use of Tuscan columns and Ionic capitals on porticos and entrances.
Architect H.L. Kerr aimed for permanence, and the building has one of the stoutest foundations in downtown Honolulu, extending all the way down to the water level. The complex includes an auditorium and a later-built annex, designed in 1930.
It is considered the only pure example of Georgian architecture in Hawaii and it exudes stability and importance. The HEA was justly proud of their monument.
But -- look up there above the entrance. In just the right light, you can read where "1820 * MISSION MEMORIAL * 1915" was chiseled off the building's architrave. Go inside, and it's City and County office space. What happened?
During World War II, Mayor Petrie cast covetous eyes on the structure, thinking it would be a wonderful place to have a traffic court, because all these out-of-town GIs are jamming the downtown police station. The city administration then moved to have the HEA's building condemned and seized.
The City claimed it was worth only $162,000, but an independent audit in 1945 determined it was worth $401,660. So the city grabbed the building, rented some rooms to the HEA, and then Mayor Wilson kicked them out completely in 1947.
The interior has been extensively tinkered with to suit various City needs, including roofing over a lovely skylight.
Since then, the building, known by the lovely name City Hall Annex, has housed collections such as the municipal library.
There is no record of it ever serving as a traffic court. The current edition of the HEA has approached the City about returning it to house the Mission Houses Museum's growing collection of artifacts.
Mission Memorial Building
Opened: 1915 Architect: H.L. Kerr, Mark Potter Style: Colonial Address: 558 S. King St. National Register: 1978 Hawaii Register: No
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The Mission Memorial is considered to be the only pure example of Georgian architecture in Hawaii.
The Hawaiian Evangelical Association built its own headquarters in 1915. This photo dates to 1918.
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Quicktime VR Panorama
Click on pictures to view panaromas
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Every Sunday in the Star-Bulletin Travel section, rediscover the charms of old Hawaii through a tour created by the Honolulu Historic Trail Committee and Historic Hawai'i Foundation and supported by the city's Office of Economic Development. The yearlong project commemorates Honolulu's bicentennial.
See Holoholo Honolulu for past articles.
