Things to do / Travel Guide
Obvious constraints have dictated that most construction on the Big Island included lava, coral, and other raw materials found locally. These constraints have forced the creation of some interesting architecture, especially with regard to the resorts.
The earliest example of resort architecture is the Mauna Kea Hotel, built in the 1960s. It is still considered one of the most exclusive resorts on the island. A later example of resort architecture and landscaping is the Hilton Waikoloa Village, which offers a mixture of Las Vegas, the Disney theme parks, and Hawaii. At the Hilton, you can take a tram to the waterfall or a boat to the tropical gardens.
New England-style architecture can be found in Kailua-Kona at the missionary-built Mokuaikaua Church. The building is made of lava rock and features a 112'-high steeple.
Hilo also has some architecturally-significant buildings of various styles and from different periods. The highlight is undisputedly the Hawaiian Telephone Company building, a prime example of Hawaiian Regional Architecture. Designed by C.W. Dickey in the 1920s, and influenced by Spanish, Italian, Californian, and Hawaiian themes, the building is quite a sight.
The Lyman Museum & Mission House in Hilo provides a good example of hybrid architecture. It's a wood-framed, New England-style house with a Hawaiian-style pitched, thatched roof.
Other architecturally-significant buildings in Hilo, some of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Buildings and Places, are listed below along with brief architectural descriptions.
- Federal Building (1919) - in neoclassical style
- Old Police Station (1932) - hipped roof, a reminder of a 19th-century Hawaiian hale
- S. Hata Building (1912) - a Renaissance revival
- Palace Theater (1925) - in Art Deco style
- S. H. Kress Company Building (1932) - in Art Deco style
- Old First Hawaiian Building (1930) - built by C. W.
Dickey
Toyama Building (1908) - a Renaissance revival
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